Kim Dong-yeon: "Minister Won Hee-ryong, who called for canceling Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway, should have been recommended for dismissal"

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 a national project worth 1.7 trillion won is at risk of being canceled due to a single remark by a minister, and that if he were the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the economy, he would have immediately recommended the president to dismiss the minister.

At a press briefing held on the 12th at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government briefing room regarding the "Seoul~Yangpyeong Expressway Project," Governor Kim said, "It is the first time I have seen all procedures up to that point ignored and changed because of a single remark by a minister, despite the national project having passed the preliminary feasibility study with an investment of 1.7 trillion won," expressing his dismay by calling it "very unusual."

He further stated, "There were no serious problems found in the existing route nor any demands from residents for replacement. The project had been progressing normally for years and had completed the preliminary feasibility study, yet it was changed without clear reasons in just six months," adding, "If suspicions had been raised about this process, they should have been resolved. However, if the government insists stubbornly and loses trust through this, it cannot move forward with the people toward the future. This must be corrected immediately."

He continued, "If an economic minister had done such a thing while I was Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the economy, I would have recommended the president to dismiss them as the Deputy Prime Minister overseeing the economy," emphasizing, "This is very unreasonable."

Governor Kim also criticized Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong's statement about risking his ministerial position over this project, saying, "People in political appointments should not speak recklessly."

The Seoul~Yangpyeong Expressway project was first proposed 15 years ago in 2008. Since then, not only Gyeonggi Province but also political parties across the spectrum have consistently worked to promote the project. As a result, it was included as a key project in the first five-year expressway construction plan in 2017. Furthermore, after passing the Ministry of Economy and Finance's preliminary feasibility study in 2021, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport conducted a feasibility evaluation for project commencement last year.

Governor Kim asserted, "The Seoul~Yangpyeong Expressway project must proceed as originally planned for the 120,000 residents of Yangpyeong as well as the 14 million residents of Gyeonggi Province."

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