Opposition Pressures Yangpyeong Province State Audit... "3 Major Corruptions: Terminal Change, Gongheung District, Namhangang Rest Area"

Democrats Hold 'Yangpyeong Favoritism Allegation National Audit Briefing'
Hong Ik-pyo: "Will Uncover Truth Until Allegations Are Resolved"
Chairman Choi Jae-gwan: "Kim Jin-pyo, Immediate Start of National Audit Procedures"

The Democratic Party of Korea has stepped up pressure on the government and ruling party by pushing not only for a special prosecutor law regarding the Deutsche Motors stock manipulation case, in which First Lady Kim Geon-hee is implicated, but also for a 'Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway National Audit.' Following the Supreme Court's confirmation of a one-year prison sentence for President Yoon Seok-yeol's mother-in-law, Choi Eun-soon (76), who was tried for forging a bank balance certificate, the Democratic Party appears to be focusing on highlighting President Yoon's 'in-law risk' ahead of next year's general election. The Democratic Party has urged National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo to initiate the national audit procedure for the Yangpyeong Expressway, drawing attention to whether the audit bill will be processed within this year.

On the 21st, the Democratic Party held a meeting at the National Assembly titled 'Democratic Party of Korea, Yangpyeong Residents, and Civil Society for the National Audit on Presidential In-Law's Yangpyeong Favoritism Allegations,' launching a public opinion campaign regarding the favoritism allegations involving the First Lady's family.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the meeting, Hong Ik-pyo, the Democratic Party floor leader, stated, "The Presidential Office's silence and the government and ruling party's irresponsible attitude regarding the Yangpyeong Expressway issue only make the necessity of a national audit on the favoritism allegations more certain," emphasizing, "Before it is too late, we must respond to the public's suspicions through a national audit."

Earlier, in July this year, the Democratic Party adopted a party resolution to submit a 'request for a national audit' to investigate the truth behind the alleged favoritism involving President Yoon's in-laws related to the route change of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway. The scope of the national audit includes ▲investigating the circumstances behind changing the terminus of the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway to Gangsaeng-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, where the President's in-laws' land is located ▲examining all procedures raised as suspicious during the route change after passing the preliminary feasibility study for the expressway ▲a full investigation into the acquisition, purpose, and land use changes of land within Yangpyeong-gun by individuals related to the favoritism allegations, including the President's in-laws ▲and probing allegations of illegal or improper involvement by power figures such as the Presidential Office, Presidential Transition Committee, Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Strategy and Finance, Korea Expressway Corporation, Yangpyeong-gun, and consulting firms related to the project confirmation and route change. They also demanded the formation of an 18-member special committee proportionate to the seats of negotiation and non-negotiation groups.

A national audit request can be submitted with the consent of one-quarter of the total members, and if the National Assembly approves the national audit plan with a majority of members present and voting in a plenary session, the audit is authorized. Since the Democratic Party already holds a majority of seats, conducting the national audit is possible, but forming an investigative committee such as a special committee requires bipartisan agreement. However, the Democratic Party explains that progress has stalled due to a lack of cooperation from the People Power Party. A Democratic Party official said, "The ruling party wants to form an expert investigation team, while we insist on conducting a national audit, so discussions must continue."

On the same day, Floor Leader Hong urged, "We repeatedly call on the government and ruling party to cooperate with the national audit to uncover the truth and resolve suspicions," criticizing, "If they continue to refuse, it is tantamount to admitting that favoritism was given to the President's in-laws." He added, "The Democratic Party will promptly push for the national audit to clearly reveal the truth and hold those responsible accountable," and "We will continue to uncover the truth of this matter until public suspicions are resolved."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the meeting, not only the 'terminus change' of the Yangpyeong Expressway but also favoritism allegations involving President Yoon's mother-in-law in the Gongheung District apartment project and favoritism in the operation rights of the Namhangang Rest Area by President Yoon's alma mater were mentioned, pointing out the 'Three Major Corruptions in Yangpyeong' in detail.

Choi Jae-gwan, the Democratic Party's regional committee head for Yeoju-Yangpyeong, said, "I believe that over 95% of the truth about the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway has been revealed through the national audit. We request that the remaining 5% be resolved through a national audit," urging, "We call for a swift national audit on the Yangpyeong Expressway gate involving President Yoon's in-laws, the Gongheung District apartment involving the mother-in-law, and the rest area involving President Yoon's alma mater, the three major corruptions in Yangpyeong."

Regarding the favoritism allegations in the Gongheung District development involving President Yoon's mother-in-law, he criticized, "It took six months before a search warrant was requested, and even then, mobile phones were excluded from the search list, indicating a lenient investigation by the prosecution. The Gongheung District apartments were built on land purchased by the President's mother-in-law in violation of the Farmland Act. The actual person responsible, the mother-in-law, was only subjected to a written investigation, and Kim Seon-gyo, then Yangpyeong County Governor who approved the permit, was not even investigated."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the favoritism allegations involving President Yoon's alma mater at the 'Namhangang Rest Area,' he said, "There are significant favoritism suspicions in the business operator selection process." He added, "It is not reasonable for a company that lost seven consecutive bids to secure the contract and pre-finance the costs through convertible bonds even before the business announcement was made. There are signs that bidding information was leaked in advance." He also pointed out, "Among 208 rest areas nationwide, this is the only one built with a mixed private investment method, and securing 15 years of operation with only a 15% investment is an unusual favoritism."

He emphasized, "We request the immediate initiation of the national audit procedure to investigate the three major corruptions." He also urged Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, saying, "Once a national audit request is submitted, the law requires it to be reported to the plenary session without delay and the procedure to be initiated. However, Speaker Kim has only requested consultations with the floor leaders of both parties and has not proceeded with the legally mandated procedures at all." He continued, "We request the immediate national audit not only on the Yangpyeong Expressway revealed during the audit but also on the Gongheung District and Namhangang Rest Area, the three major corruptions in Yangpyeong."

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