Ruling and opposition parties clash over Yangpyeong road at Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee... "Won Hee-ryong must apologize" vs "Will reconsider if suspicions stop"

Political Dispute Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Over Ministry of Land Data Disclosure
Democratic Party to Submit Request for Government Investigation at Plenary Session on 27th

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong and the Democratic Party of Korea clashed head-on over the responsibility for the controversy surrounding the cancellation of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway project at the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee plenary session on the 26th. Minister Won stated, “If the Democratic Party stops spreading (the suspicions), we will proceed normally even today,” shifting the responsibility for resuming the project onto the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party demanded an apology, saying, “Minister Won’s submission of materials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has been insincere.”

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong is responding to questions from lawmakers at the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 26th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In the briefing on current issues that day, Minister Won said, “More than anyone, I hope the (Yangpyeong Expressway) will proceed normally on the best route as soon as possible,” adding, “Whether to proceed normally can be decided immediately depending on the Democratic Party’s response.” This indicated that if the opposition party stops its offensive regarding suspicions related to First Lady Kim Keon-hee’s family, the project could be resumed in the future. Minister Won further added, “If the suspension continues, in the worst case, it could last until the end of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s term.”

The Democratic Party sharply criticized the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s inadequate submission of materials even before the formal questioning began, leading to a sharp confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties. Democratic Party lawmaker Choi In-ho pointed out, “The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport did not submit key materials for the past two weeks and suddenly disclosed them last Sunday,” adding, “The Ministry’s claim that the materials did not exist is an admission of lying.”

Kim Min-ki, chairman of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, also joined in. Chairman Kim said, “The materials that were said not to exist to the committee members were published on the website, which means the Ministry lied,” and asked Minister Won Hee-ryong again if he would apologize.

However, Minister Won responded to the opposition’s demand for an apology by saying, “It is out of order to demand an apology before the report has even started,” and countered, “If anyone should apologize, it is the current and former leaders of the Democratic Party who have led this situation into false agitation.” Opposition lawmakers protested loudly in response.

Minister Won continued, “This situation has reached this point because former leader Lee Hae-chan suddenly raised allegations of special favors related to the change of the expressway terminus in June,” and claimed, “Representative Lee Jae-myung even formed a task force, effectively giving instructions on this matter.”

The People Power Party came to Minister Won’s defense. Kim Jeong-jae, a People Power Party lawmaker and floor leader, said, “The purpose of holding the standing committee was to clarify the facts objectively with factual materials,” adding, “If political offensives are launched before it even starts, the direction of the standing committee cannot be scientific and objective.”

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea is expected to demand a state audit regarding the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway project. Spokesperson Park Seong-jun told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly that morning, “We judge that the government and ruling party are quietly seeking an exit strategy,” and added, “It is expected that a request for a state audit (to investigate the special favor suspicions involving President Yoon Seok-yeol’s family regarding the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway) will be submitted at the National Assembly plenary session tomorrow (the 27th).”

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