Kim Keonhee Special Prosecutor Raids Ministry of Land Over 'Yangpyeong Expressway Favoritism' Allegations
Search and Seizure at Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Service Providers
Kim Sunkyo and Won Heeryong Not Included Among Compulsory Investigation Targets
On the morning of July 14, the special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki, which is investigating allegations related to First Lady Kim Keonhee, conducted search and seizure operations at more than 10 locations, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, in connection with the suspected preferential treatment regarding the Yangpyeong Expressway. This marks the first time that the Kim Keonhee special prosecutor team has launched a compulsory investigation into the Yangpyeong Expressway allegations.
The Kim Keonhee special prosecutor team announced that morning, "We are conducting search and seizure operations related to the Yangpyeong Expressway case at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and several service providers." However, Kim Sunkyo, a People Power Party lawmaker and former Yangpyeong County governor, as well as Won Heeryong, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, were not included among the search targets.
The alleged preferential treatment regarding the Yangpyeong Expressway concerns suspicions that, during Won Heeryong's tenure as minister, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport altered the expressway's final route to pass through land owned by the family of First Lady Kim Keonhee, thereby granting them special favors. Kim Sunkyo is known as the person who requested the route change to the area where the Kim family land is located.
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The original plan for the expressway had the terminus in Yangseo-myeon, and this route passed the preliminary feasibility study in 2021. However, in May 2023, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport suddenly began reviewing a new terminus in Gangsang-myeon, where the Kim family land is located, sparking controversy. As the controversy grew, Won Heeryong abruptly announced the cancellation of the project in July of that year.
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