Yangpyeong-do State Audit or Verification Committee? Won Hee-ryong's Proposal, Will the Opposition Respond?

Won Hee-ryong "Form Verification Committee, Decide Route and Resume Project"
Opposition's Subtle Reaction... Also Reflects Concerns About the Effectiveness of the National Investigation

Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, proposed overturning the 'cancellation declaration' of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway project and resuming the project after forming a bipartisan route verification committee to decide the route. The opposition party emphasized that a parliamentary audit should be conducted to investigate the suspicions regarding the change of the terminal point, as these suspicions have not been resolved.

However, since it is difficult for the parliamentary audit to proceed smoothly without the ruling party's cooperation, there is also an opinion within the opposition that the suspicions will ultimately be investigated during the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit in October.

Minister Won proposed forming a bipartisan route verification committee instead of a parliamentary audit. On the 30th, he stated, "There is no need to go to a parliamentary audit; the standing committee can summon experts seven days in advance, and witnesses can be punished if they lie under oath," adding, "We have a policy to hold the standing committee indefinitely and cooperate in summoning witnesses."

Minister Won said, "(The Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway) has already become politicized, so to move beyond this, a process is needed that involves scientific expertise, truth verification through the standing committee, and gathering the will of the Yangpyeong residents who benefit from the expressway to the fullest extent," and added, "I believe we must fulfill our responsibilities through such a process."

The route verification committee was originally proposed by Shim Sang-jung, a member of the Justice Party, suggesting that the ruling and opposition parties form an objective verification committee to investigate the project's validity and make a decision.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong visited the area near the terminal of the alternative route of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway in Gangsang-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do on the morning of the 27th and was talking with residents during an on-site inspection.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, Shim Sang-jung, who first proposed the route verification committee, strongly criticized Minister Won, saying, "If you are not confident, step aside." Initially, Shim emphasized that before forming the bipartisan route verification committee, Minister Won should first apologize to the public and resolve the special privilege suspicions surrounding Kim Geon-hee, but Minister Won proposed forming the committee without such a process.

On the 31st, Shim stated on Facebook, "For the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway verification committee to be effective, two principles must be preconditioned," pointing out, "First, the road taken away from the people by the minister's cancellation must be promptly returned to the people. Second, the conflict of interest and special privilege suspicions involving Kim Geon-hee's family must be resolved."

Shim urged Minister Won to take responsibility. She said, "Minister Won should apologize to the public for the 'cancellation,' officially declare the 'reversal of the cancellation,' and sell the land around Gang Sang-myeon owned by Kim's family for fair route verification," adding, "A route verification committee without these two prerequisites can only be seen as a shallow trick to avoid the opposition's demand for a parliamentary audit."

The Democratic Party of Korea also repeatedly demands a parliamentary audit rather than a verification committee. On the 31st, Han Jun-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker, appeared on YTN Radio's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon' and emphasized, "Although the ruling party and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport may respond uncooperatively, the opposition should proceed with the parliamentary audit on its own."

Han criticized Minister Won's proposal for the route verification committee as "obscuring the essence of the issue." He said, "It is not impossible to form a route evaluation committee," but emphasized, "Currently, many documents are hidden, and false explanations about the facts are being revealed, so clarifying these suspicions should be the priority."

However, there are also skeptical views within the Democratic Party regarding the possibility of a parliamentary audit. While agreeing on the necessity of the audit, they believe that essential cooperation from the ruling party in forming the committee and selecting witnesses will not be forthcoming.

On the same day, Woo Sang-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker, appeared on the YouTube channel 'Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Difficult News Factory' and said, "Something will come out of the parliamentary audit," but added, "If the ruling party does not agree, the parliamentary audit committee cannot even be formed, so the opposition cannot forcibly proceed with the audit."

He continued, "Other matters can be handled procedurally through already established standing committees, but the parliamentary audit requires forming a separate body," and predicted, "Therefore, it will have to be addressed during the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's audit in October."

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