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'Involved in Yangpyeong Highway Change While Dispatched to Transition Committee,' MOLIT Official Currently Holding Key Position

[비즈한국] It has been reported that the special counsel investigating Kim Keon-hee (Special Prosecutor Min Joong-ki) has secured evidence suggesting that discussions regarding the modification of the Yangpyeong Expressway route took place as early as the transition committee period for President Yoon Suk-yeol. The special counsel, which is investigating allegations surrounding the Yangpyeong Expressway route change, reportedly obtained testimony from a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) official, identified as Secretary Kim, stating that a MOLIT official dispatched to the transition committee had ordered the change to the terminal point. An investigation by BizHankook confirms that one of the two MOLIT officials who served in the Economic Subcommittee 2 of the transition committee still holds a key position within the ministry.

In September, the Kim Keon-hee special counsel team arrested Secretary Kim, who is linked to the Yangpyeong Expressway route change allegations. This was separate from the highway controversy, based on allegations that he received bribes worth 36 million won in exchange for selecting specific construction contractors. On July 18, 2022, MOLIT sent an official document to Yangpyeong-gun and Hanam-si requesting their opinions on three draft plans for the Yangpyeong Expressway, and Secretary Kim was included in the approval line for this document at the time.

The Kim Keon-hee special counsel team is said to have recently obtained testimony from Secretary Kim that discussions regarding the change of the terminal point had already occurred during the transition committee period. The testimony alleges that a MOLIT official dispatched to the transition committee at the time instructed them to review the change to the terminal point. The outline of the suspicion that the terminal change was discussed as early as the presidential transition period immediately following Yoon Suk-yeol's election seems to be emerging.

During the National Assembly's audit of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on October 13, Rep. Cheon Jun-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea pointed out, "There have been reports that Secretary Kim of the Road Policy Division pointed to the Gangsang-myeon area, where the Kim Keon-hee family's land is concentrated, and demanded that the service provider perform a study to change the terminal point to that area." He added, "The report claims that when the service provider expressed reluctance due to economic feasibility, he stated that it was 'a matter of interest to the transition committee'." Rep. Cheon criticized Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yun-deok, adding, "It is said that an official dispatched to the transition committee contacted Secretary Kim and asked for the Gangsang-myeon terminal plan to be reviewed as an alternative."

A total of five MOLIT officials were dispatched or provided support to the Yoon Suk-yeol transition committee. Among them, the official dispatched to Economic Subcommittee 2 was former Land Policy Officer Baek, and the official who provided support was former Railway Construction Division Director Kim. It has been confirmed that Director Kim currently holds a key position within the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Land Policy Officer Baek began his dispatch on March 21, 2022, and Director Kim began his support work on April 5, 2022. The Yoon Suk-yeol transition committee was launched on March 18, 2022, and concluded on May 6.

Meanwhile, on October 16, following BizHankook's reporting on this matter, the special counsel for Kim Keon-hee conducted search and seizure operations at the office and residence of Director Kim, who is currently working at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.