The second special investigation team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, is set to summon Won Hee-ryong, the former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, for further questioning regarding allegations surrounding the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway project.
The investigation will focus on whether Won declared the cancellation of the project without following proper procedures and whether he directed the distribution of press releases that contradicted legal advice regarding potential violations.
According to legal sources on July 29, the special prosecutors plan to question Won at 10 a.m. on August 6 as a suspect regarding allegations of abuse of power. This will be his second summons following the initial questioning on July 23. The special prosecutors stated that the need for any additional summons remains undecided.
The allegations concerning the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway involve claims that the endpoint of the highway was changed from Yangseo-myeon in Yangpyeong County to Gangsan-myeon, where land owned by Kim Geon-hee's family is located, after the inauguration of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. The original plan, which passed a preliminary feasibility study in 2021, faced scrutiny when it was revealed that the Ministry of Land was considering an alternative endpoint in Gangsan-myeon in May 2023, raising suspicions of favoritism.
In July 2023, amid growing controversy, Won declared the cancellation of the project. The special prosecutors suspect that he made this decision without going through necessary procedures, such as the Road Policy Review Committee.
The investigation is also examining whether Won directly intervened in the endpoint change process. He has maintained that he had no involvement in the highway project until the allegations arose and that he halted the project due to concerns about its viability.
On July 15, the special prosecutors conducted a search and seizure operation at Won's office, seizing his mobile phone. Following this, they questioned him for about nine hours on July 23 and are currently conducting a forensic analysis of the phone. They aim to determine whether there are any communications or directives from Won related to the endpoint change and the cancellation decision.
During his first appearance for questioning, Won criticized the special prosecutors for shifting the focus of their investigation from allegations of favoritism in the route change to the legality of the cancellation. He stated, "After investigating for over a year regarding highway favoritism, they seem to be changing the target of their investigation to the cancellation declaration now that they are unable to proceed." He asserted that there are no illegalities, suggesting that the special prosecutors' intentions may not succeed.
Previously, the Kim Geon-hee special investigation team indicted officials from the Ministry of Land and the Korea Expressway Corporation on charges of abuse of power related to the route change allegations. However, they were unable to clarify the charges against Won, who was identified as a higher-up. The comprehensive special investigation team has since taken over the case, examining both Won's involvement in the route change and the decision-making process behind the project's cancellation.
The special prosecutors are expected to review the results of the August 6 questioning and the forensic analysis of the mobile phone to determine the necessity of any further summons and the direction of their actions regarding Won. As of now, they have officially stated that the need for additional summons has not yet been decided, and no timeline for potential charges or actions has been established.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.