Kim Dong-yeon Issues Statement on 'Seoul~Yangpyeong Expressway': "Withdraw Cancellation and Proceed Immediately"

In 6 Months, 55% of the 17 Trillion Won Project Routes Changed, an Extremely Rare Case
Adoption of Change Proposal Will Inevitably Cause Long-Term Project Drift... 14 Million Residents Affected
One Minister's Word Causes 'Collapse of National Decision-Making System'... Calls for Dismissal and More

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is announcing the 'Position on the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway Project' at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government briefing room on the 12th.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon stated that an unreasonable situation is occurring in South Korea where the Seoul~Yangpyeong Expressway project is being canceled by a single word from the minister. He urged that the project, which aligns with its original purpose, resolves residents' long-standing demands, and was designed in the fastest manner, should be promptly advanced.

He also pointed out that various suspicions remain unresolved regarding why more than 50% of the 27 km expressway route was changed within six months, who made the changes, why, and through what procedures the route was altered.

Furthermore, he expressed concern that if the project proceeds according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s revised plan, it is highly likely to be subject to a preliminary feasibility re-investigation, which would inevitably delay the project by at least one year.

Moreover, he described the alteration of a national project involving 1.7 trillion won based on a minister’s single word, ignoring procedures, as a serious crisis in the 'national decision-making system.' He added that if he were the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, he would have recommended the dismissal of the minister to the president as the economic chief.

◆ Urging Full Withdrawal of the Expressway Project Cancellation

On the 12th, at a press conference held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office regarding the Seoul~Yangpyeong Expressway project, Governor Kim strongly urged the complete withdrawal of the irrational cancellation of the national project.

He continued, "A 1.7 trillion won expressway project cannot be canceled by a single word from the minister," and argued, "All large-scale fiscal projects exceeding 50 billion won, such as construction or welfare, must undergo a preliminary feasibility study by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The Seoul~Yangpyeong Expressway project passed this and proceeded as part of the national fiscal plan. Moreover, due to the nature of expressways, it even went through inter-ministerial consultations before the preliminary feasibility study, establishing the national comprehensive road plan."

Governor Kim emphasized that it is unacceptable for a project that has undergone such a complex and rigorous process and involved significant investment to be canceled by a minister’s single word.

He added, "Having experience as the Budget Office Chief responsible for allocating SOC expressway funds and as the 2nd Vice Minister of Economy and Finance overseeing preliminary feasibility studies, I can say that a national project being overturned by a minister’s single word is nothing but a sign of governmental disorder. Furthermore, using suspicions as a pretext to talk about project cancellation amounts to abuse of authority by holding the project hostage to intimidate the public."

◆ 55% of the 1.7 Trillion Won Project Route Changed in Six Months

Governor Kim revealed, "In July 2022, during the first feasibility-related agency consultation for the Seoul~Yangpyeong Expressway, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport invited nine local governments including Yangpyeong, Hanam, and Seoul but conspicuously excluded Gyeonggi Province. This was very unusual."

He continued, "Six months later, in January 2023, during the second feasibility-related agency consultation, the Ministry sent official letters to 12 local governments and agencies including Gyeonggi Province with a changed route from Hanam Gamildong to Gangsan-myeon in Yangpyeong instead of Yangseo-myeon," and exposed, "However, strangely, the project overview on the front page of the consultation letter differed from the location map on the back."

He claimed, "The project overview stated the route from Hanam Gamildong to Yangseo-myeon in Yangpyeong, with a length of 27.0 km and three interchanges including Sangsachang. But the attached location map showed the route changed to Hanam Gamildong to Gangsan-myeon in Yangpyeong, with a length of 29 km and four interchanges, one more than before."

Governor Kim raised suspicion, saying, "It remains unclear why more than 50% of the original 27 km route was changed within six months, who made the changes, why, and through what procedures. This is truly puzzling."

◆ Long-Term Project Drift and Damage to 14 Million Residents if Revised Plan Adopted

Governor Kim stated, "According to the government’s total project cost management guidelines, if the total project cost increases by more than 15% or traffic demand decreases by more than 30% compared to the original project, or if requested by the Board of Audit and Inspection or the National Assembly, a feasibility re-investigation must be conducted. Judging from various circumstances, a feasibility re-investigation by the Ministry of Economy and Finance appears inevitable."

He added, "In this case, a delay of at least one year is expected. Especially, not only the feasibility re-investigation of the revised plan but also a preliminary feasibility re-investigation might be required again. Since the start and end points have changed and 55% of the original plan has been significantly altered, it is practically a new route."

Meanwhile, according to Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport data, since 1999, there have been 14 projects that changed start and end points after preliminary feasibility studies. Among these, three projects were within or passing through Gyeonggi Province: Gimpo~Paju, Yangpyeong~Icheon, and Incheon Gyeyang~Ganghwa sections. Only one project, Gyeyang~Ganghwa, changed start and end points, with only a 5% overall change. All three projects involved only partial changes.

◆ The Seoul~Yangpyeong Expressway Cannot Be Delayed Any Longer

Governor Kim introduced, "The original Seoul~Yangpyeong Expressway project aimed to alleviate traffic congestion on National Route 6, including the Dumulmeori area in Yangpyeong. The expressway has caused severe traffic jams during weekday commutes and weekend tourism, causing suffering not only to Yangpyeong residents but many others."

He emphasized, "This expressway is a very important project not only for improving the traffic environment in eastern Gyeonggi but also for Gwangju and Yangpyeong counties, which have lacked infrastructure due to various regulations. It is also included as a crucial route in the wide-area traffic improvement plan for Hanam Gyosan New Town, where 33,000 houses will be built by 2028."

The Seoul~Yangpyeong Expressway project was first proposed 15 years ago in 2008. Since then, both Gyeonggi Province and political parties across the spectrum have consistently worked to advance the project. As a result, it was included as a key project in the first five-year expressway construction plan in 2017. It also passed the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s preliminary feasibility study in 2021 and underwent the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s feasibility evaluation last year to initiate the project.

Governor Kim asserted, "This expressway must proceed as originally planned for the 120,000 residents of Yangpyeong and the 14 million residents of Gyeonggi Province."

◆ 'Collapse of the National Decision-Making System' Due to a Minister’s Single Word

Governor Kim lamented, "I have never seen a national project involving 1.7 trillion won, which passed preliminary feasibility studies, have all procedures ignored and changed by a single word from a minister. This is very unusual."

He added, "If I were Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and a minister in the economic sector had done such a thing, I would have recommended their dismissal to the president as the deputy prime minister overseeing the economy."

Furthermore, he advised, "No serious problems were found in the original route, nor were there any resident replacement demands. The project had been progressing normally for years and passed the preliminary feasibility study, yet it was changed within just six months without clear reasons. If suspicions arise about such a process, they should be resolved. If the government insists on its stance and loses trust through this, it cannot move forward with the people toward the future. This must be corrected immediately."

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