Presidential Office Responds to Controversy Over Cancellation of Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway: "It's the Ministry of Land's Responsibility"

"The opposition raises political issues... It is right for both parties to discuss"

The Presidential Office on the 9th distanced itself from the controversy over the 'Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway project cancellation,' stating, "This is an issue for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to handle." Previously, the Democratic Party of Korea claimed that the expressway route was changed to provide special favors to First Lady Kim Keon-hee's family, and in response, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong strongly denied the allegations and declared the project cancellation.

A Presidential Office official met with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office that afternoon and, when asked about Minister Won's report on the project cancellation, said, "The opposition party raised political issues, and the voices of Yangpyeong residents have also been conveyed, so I understand that this is being discussed at the National Assembly level." The official added, "While the Presidential Office's position has been indirectly expressed, I believe it is appropriate for the ruling and opposition parties to discuss how to proceed going forward."

Currently, the Democratic Party holds the position that "Minister Won Hee-ryong and the government and ruling party should immediately stop their shameless 'victim cosplay'." Kwon Chil-seung, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, said in a briefing at the National Assembly that "the 15-year long-cherished project of Yangpyeong residents was changed in just eight days and then completely scrapped in a single day," adding, "The sudden route change favoring Kim Keon-hee's circle and the abrupt declaration of full cancellation were all decisions made by Minister Won."

The People Power Party pushed back. Kang Min-guk, the party's chief spokesperson, said, "The Democratic Party used the long-cherished project of Yangpyeong residents as a tool for political strife. Due to their incitement of baseless rumors about special favors, the hopes of Yangpyeong residents have been dashed," and countered, "If the Democratic Party had not stirred up so much trouble, Minister Won would not have declared the cancellation of Yangpyeong's long-cherished project." Kang pointed out, "Two years ago, the Democratic Party also demanded the same route, and it became laughable when it was revealed that former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum owns land near the interchange of that route." He continued, "The Democratic Party now subtly changes their story, claiming that at the time, the Democratic Party's local chairman and former county head only requested adding an IC (interchange) to the original plan reflecting Yangpyeong residents' sentiments, not a route change. However, the truth is that since the Democratic Party government two years ago, Yangpyeong residents have requested the installation of an IC rather than a junction and route modifications, and the Democratic Party's local chairman and former county head agreed to the revised plan."

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