The South Korean government has decided to resume the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway project, which was previously paused in July 2023. This decision comes under the directive of President Lee Jae-myung, aimed at addressing the local residents' inconveniences stemming from the construction delay. First Secretary Hong Ik-pyo stated that the Ministry of Planning and Finance will develop a budget support plan for the project's revival in the first half of this year.

The project had faced criticism and controversy over alleged preferential treatment concerning Kim Geon-hee, the wife of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had proposed changing the endpoint of the expressway to a site associated with Kim, which raised suspicions of bias. The opposition party, then known as the Democratic Party, accused Kim's family of receiving undue advantages, leading to a suspension of the project for a comprehensive reassessment by then-Minister Won Hee-ryong.

With the project now back on track, the government aims to dispel political concerns surrounding it and expedite the necessary processes. Hong emphasized the importance of promptly determining the optimal route for future generations and intends to start construction by the end of 2029. This move may also reflect attempts by the current government to navigate politically charged waters, attempting to balance project development and public perceptions of fairness in governance.