▲ Lee Jae-myung (L), the chair of the main opposition Democratic Party, speaks during a meeting of Supreme Council members at the National Assembly in Seoul on July 12, 2023. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) DP leader-expressway project

(LEAD) DP leader proposes parliamentary investigation into expressway project

(ATTN: UPDATES with comment from PPP's floor leader in last para)

SEOUL, July 12 (Yonhap) -- Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung proposed a parliamentary investigation Wednesday into a now-scrapped expressway project over allegations that the government changed its route to help the family of first lady Kim Keon Hee gain financial benefits from it.

The Seoul-Yangpyeong expressway project has emerged as one of the biggest political issues after the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) alleged the highway's endpoint was changed to where Kim's family owns land in Yangpyeong, east of Seoul, as prices of the land would rise if the road is built.

Land Minister Won Hee-ryong categorically rejected the allegations and scrapped the project altogether last week. Since then, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the DP have traded accusations and counter-accusations blaming each other.

On Wednesday, DP leader Lee Jae-myung called for a parliamentary investigation.

"The expressway gate involving the family of the president's wife is developing in an increasingly intriguing manner," Lee said during a party meeting. "The lies the Yoon Suk Yeol administration told to cover up the truth ... are being exposed everywhere."

Lee said the government's argument that the route change was made at the request of Yangpyeong County was found to be false, claiming the local government was passive in its effort to change the terminus until February.

"The gist of this incident is that the endpoint of the expressway was altered to the vicinity of land owned by the first lady's family soon after the new administration came in," Lee said.

Lee stressed that a parliamentary probe is needed to thoroughly investigate why the endpoint was modified, adding he will wait for a response from President Yoon regarding the matter.

"The government is spilling a lot of words, but if their acts are deemed justifiable, they can gallantly disclose the process," the DP leader said.

The PPP rejected Lee's proposal as an attempt to fuel political strife.

"Rather than political instigation, what the political circles should do now is ... to focus on how to uphold the will of local residents as the project is faced with suspension," PPP floor leader Yun Jae-ok told reporters.

Dismissing the parliamentary probe proposal, Yun also said the DP can raise whatever issues it wants to raise during a parliamentary land committee meeting set for Monday next week, adding the land minister is also scheduled to appear at the committee meeting.

The PPP has rejected the allegations of favoritism for Kim's family, arguing that the route change was first proposed during the previous Moon Jae-in administration and was finalized shortly after the new government took office.

The PPP has also demanded the DP should first apologize if the project is going to resume.

"An apology from the Democratic Party should come first before the resumption of the project," PPP leader Kim Gi-hyeon told reporters during a visit to Washington, accusing the DP of "pouring cold water over a well-proceeding project."

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