Yangpyeong Expressway Cancellation 'Bombshell'... What About Resident Damage?

A Long-Awaited Project for Yangpyeong Residents... Highway Project Canceled
Won Hee-ryong: "Better Than Being Plagued by Opposition's Agitation and Suspicion"

Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, declared the suspension of the related project while labeling the 'highway privilege' allegations surrounding Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, as a fake news frame, sparking ongoing repercussions. In Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, the area concerned, voices expressing concern over potential harm to residents are growing louder.

The construction of the Seoul~Yangpyeong highway is a long-cherished project for the residents of Yangpyeong County. The residents suffer from chronic traffic congestion around the Dumoolmeori area. If the highway opens, the travel time by car from Seoul to Yangpyeong is expected to be drastically reduced from the current 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours to around 15 minutes, which is anticipated to alleviate traffic difficulties in the area.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Residents of Yangpyeong are voicing dissatisfaction over the news of the project's cancellation. One citizen expressed anger on June 6 on the Yangpyeong County website's free bulletin board, stating, "The Seoul~Yangpyeong highway was a long-cherished project for us, the residents of Yangpyeong County," and added, "I am really angry that the cancellation claim has come out for such a ridiculous reason." Another citizen pointed out, "Only the residents of Yangpyeong County and those from Yeongdong and Chungcheong regions who want to use the smooth highway to the metropolitan area will suffer the consequences."

Jeon Jin-seon, Mayor of Yangpyeong County, urged the withdrawal of the project suspension. On June 6, he wrote on his Facebook, "Yangpyeong County, located at the edge of the metropolitan area, has endured various regulations to supply drinking water to 26 million metropolitan residents, yet we have lived with patience and hope solely due to the anticipation of the 'Seoul-Yangpyeong highway,'" adding, "The announcement by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to 'completely suspend the Seoul-Yangpyeong highway project' is extremely surprising and regrettable as the mayor of Yangpyeong County."

He said, "The fake controversy stirred up by people who have no ties or understanding of this area and who did not even check the progress of the Seoul-Yangpyeong highway project has led to unimaginable consequences like today, disregarding the interests of the residents." He appealed to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, saying, "Please withdraw the complete suspension of the project so that the residents of Yangpyeong can continue to hold onto their dreams and hopes."

The head of the Truth Investigation Task Force on preferential treatment allegations regarding the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway from the Democratic Party of Korea, Kang Deuk-gu, along with other lawmakers, are speaking at the site near the expressway terminus in Gangsang-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, on the morning of the 6th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Minister Won holds the position that the Seoul~Yangpyeong highway project cannot proceed due to political agitation by the Democratic Party of Korea. When announcing the full cancellation of the project, Minister Won left a remark, saying, "If this route is truly necessary, it can be done by the next government."

On June 7, on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Minister Won emphasized, "Rather than having the public suffer from suspicions until the end of my term, it is better for the country that I take responsibility now and cut ties on this matter."

He said, "I made this decision after much anguish, fully prepared to take responsibility for personnel authority," adding, "The Democratic Party of Korea will continue to pick on Kim Geon-hee during my term, and under such circumstances, I absolutely cannot proceed with the project."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.