Won Hee-ryong claims decision to scrap the Yangpyeong expressway project was solely his decision, with no consultation with the president

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong talks with an official in a working-level meeting of the government and the ruling People Power Party members of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee on the fake news linked to the Seoul-Yangpyeong expressway at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the morning of July 6. Yonhap News

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong announced that the decision to scrap the Seoul-Yangpyeong expressway project was a decision he made individually without consulting President Yoon Suk-yeol. He also mentioned that he was prepared to take responsibility even if it meant putting his ministerial position on the line, as well as political responsibility.

Won appeared on Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show on CBS radio Friday morning, and when the host asked, “Did you make the final decision to scrap the project by yourself?” he answered, “Of course.”

He then explained, “At first, I thought of sending just the later one (the controversial plan which ended in Gangsang-myeon) out of the two plans back to the drawing board, but the Democratic Party created a task force claiming they had something on first lady Kim Keon-hee and argued that we were trying to compromise to cover up allegations.” He added, “They had no intention to negotiate. They were just intent on biting into and dragging first lady Kim into controversy.”

The land minister continued and said, “The Seoul-Yangpyeong expressway was a project that the president had pledged, and I was the chief of policy who designed that pledge.” He argued, “The Democratic Party was trying to provoke the people like flies by dragging the first lady in, so they could do some damage to the president.”

Minister Won also said that he did not discuss the cancellation of the Seoul-Yangpyeong expressway with President Yoon. He claimed that a minister should be politically responsible. He explained that the decision was made after much consideration and he said if the president held him responsible, he was prepared, even if it cost him his position.

The land minister aimed at Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung and said, “Since the party provoked the people with accusations based on fake news, he should clearly be responsible for the instigation by engaging in a one-on-one debate with me, perhaps.” He also said, “If they give a clear explanation, clarify all allegations and be responsible and apologize, then there will be no need for us to insist on our position, either.”

However, in response to his decision to scrap the project, people from within the ruling People Power Party also voiced different views, including former PPP legislator Yoo Seong-min, who asked, “It’s fake news. Why did he scrap the project?”