Lead

Former South Korean Land Minister Won Hee-ryong appeared before a special counsel team on July 23 for questioning over an expressway project linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee's family, officials said. The questioning, conducted at the office of special counsel Kwon Chang-young in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, centers on suspicions that Won tried to alter the endpoint of a planned Seoul-Yangpyeong expressway during his tenure to benefit Kim, the wife of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Coverage Comparison

Both reports from Yonhap News — English, dated July 18 and July 23, focus on the same core allegations but differ in timing and detail. The earlier report, published July 18, announced Won's impending appearance, noting that a special council team had scheduled his questioning for 10 a.m. on July 23. The later report, filed on the day of the appearance, confirms that Won arrived at the special counsel's office and spoke to reporters before undergoing interrogation.

The two pieces also vary in the context they provide. The July 18 report mentions that Won served as land minister under then-President Yoon Suk Yeol between May 2022 and December 2023, and notes that a travel ban was imposed against him in March. The July 23 report adds that Won canceled the entire project in July 2023 following controversy over the alleged special favor, and that the special counsel team has been investigating whether Won bypassed due procedures in the cancellation process.

Key Claims

  • Won Hee-ryong, former land minister, was summoned by special counsel Kwon Chang-young's team for questioning over an expressway project linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee's family, as reported by Yonhap News — English.
  • The allegations involve suspicions that Won tried to alter the endpoint of the planned Seoul-Yangpyeong expressway to benefit Kim, whose family owns land near the proposed new endpoint.
  • The expressway project was canceled in July 2023 by Won following controversy about the alleged special favor, according to the July 23 report.
  • Won denied any wrongdoing as he arrived for interrogation, as reported by Yonhap News — English.
  • Won served as land minister under then-President Yoon Suk Yeol between May 2022 and December 2023, according to the July 18 report.
  • A travel ban was imposed against Won in March, and his mobile phone was seized last Wednesday, as stated in the July 18 report.

Perspectives

Prosecution/Investigation side: The special counsel team has been investigating whether Won bypassed due procedures in the cancellation process, and has taken investigative steps including imposing a travel ban and seizing Won's mobile phone.

Defense/Subject side: Won has rejected the allegations and denied any wrongdoing, both when the controversy first emerged and upon arriving for questioning.