Won Hee-ryong: "Political Strife is Political Strife, Business is Business... Promoting Normalization of Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway"

Won Hee-ryong's First Visit to Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway Terminus
"Pursuing Expert Verification Regardless of Democratic Party's Apology"

Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "We will focus on resolving suspicions to normalize the Seoul?Yangpyeong Expressway project." This means that apart from responding to the Democratic Party's spread of 'special treatment suspicions,' the project will be put back on track through expert verification and gathering opinions from Yangpyeong residents.

On the 27th, Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, held a residents' meeting at a church in Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, the terminal area of the original Seoul~Yangpyeong Expressway preliminary feasibility study route, to listen to opinions. / Photo by Noh Kyung-jo

On the 27th, Minister Won visited Yangseo-myeon and Gangsaeng-myeon in Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, the terminal points of the preliminary feasibility study (original plan) and alternative routes for the Seoul?Yangpyeong Expressway, holding a meeting with residents. He said, "The project was inevitably halted, but we will prioritize it above other issues and conduct expert verification to find out the truth and whether there is anything suspicious." This was Minister Won's first visit to the Seoul?Yangpyeong Expressway site.

Minister Won emphasized, "There is a saying, 'Diagnosis belongs to the doctor, medicine to the pharmacist.' I will thoroughly eliminate the acts of people who, without proper knowledge, make political criticisms regardless of party lines."

He intends to play the role of a 'problem solver' to ensure the construction of the Seoul?Yangpyeong Expressway, a long-cherished project for Yangpyeong residents, proceeds normally. He said, "Because the political scene is so noisy, I came to Yangpyeong a bit late. It would be best if the Democratic Party apologizes on its own, but even if not, I will respect the residents' opinions and build the expressway as soon as possible."

Regarding the verification of facts in the data previously disclosed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, any unresolved doubts will be politically addressed, and demands for an apology from former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Hae-chan will continue. However, he expressed that they cannot be swayed by political strife indefinitely.

Some residents are holding pro and con placards related to the terminus of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway in front of a church in Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, visited by Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, on the 27th. / Photo by Noh Kyung-jo

In this context, he avoided using the term 'resumption' of the project. Minister Won explained, "I said to scrap it because I judged that the political strife caused by the Democratic Party could last until the end of the current administration's term. To resume, a special process to resolve suspicions is necessary." Instead of resuming starting from a residents' briefing session, he used the phrase 'resolving suspicions for normal progress.'

He added, "We plan to proceed with the best route (whichever it may be) by conducting expert verification and collecting opinions from Yangpyeong residents. We will not stand idly by until the political strife ends." He urged the Democratic Party to participate in the expert verification. In this case, experts recommended separately by the ruling party and the Democratic Party are expected to gather to examine the original plan and alternatives in terms of technical feasibility, economic viability, and environmental impact.

Minister Won said, "Depending on the expert verification results, we will keep open the possibility of whether to conduct a new environmental impact assessment or follow separate procedures within a legal framework." He added, "The 2024 ministry budget proposal includes 12.3 billion KRW for the feasibility study and basic design of the Seoul?Yangpyeong Expressway, so items can be added or removed by the end of the year." The budget proposal submitted by the Ministry of Land in May is currently under final review by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which plans to submit the government proposal to the National Assembly by September 2.

Meanwhile, Yangpyeong residents attending the meeting raised their voices for the project's resumption. They especially emphasized the need to install an interchange (IC) in Gangha-myeon and promote the alternative route terminating at Gangsaeng-myeon. They also expressed difficulties caused by the lack of national and local roads besides the expressway. Some argued that the terminal should be located in Yangseo-myeon according to the original plan.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong is speaking at a residents' meeting held on the 27th at a community center in Gangsang-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, the terminal point of the alternative route for the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway. / Photo by Noh Kyung-jo

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