Outgoing land minister vows to keep eye on Ukraine after returning to politics
Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, center, speaks during a press conference at the Government Complex in Sejong, Monday. Yonhap
Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong indicated his intention to keep supporting Korean companies entering the market for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, even after he returns to the political circles.
“Ukraine is not only related to our ministry’s overseas construction policies, but also to our national security strategies and the global supply chain,” he told reporters after the presidential office announced his successor, Monday. “For the nation’s survival, future growth and security, this is a pan-governmental topic which is also important for the politicians at the National Assembly, so I will keep paying attention to this issue, regardless of my position.”
Won, who served as land minister over the past year and seven months, has made efforts to enhance Korea’s ties with Ukraine, in order to help domestic firms take part in a $140 billion project to rebuild the war-torn country’s transport and energy infrastructure once the war there ends.
In September, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv to introduce Korean companies interested in reconstruction projects. Officials at Korean railway companies under the ministry’s supervision were sent to Ukraine last month to discuss their potential participation in projects to rebuild the country’s railroad systems.
During the latest press conference, the minister also promised to settle corruption scandals involving state-run Korea Land & Housing Corp. (LH) and inter-floor noise in apartment buildings, instead of handing over those issues to his successor, former LH CEO Park Sang-woo.
Won told reporters that the ministry will announce its proposed solutions to the issues next week.
He also emphasized that the construction of a new airport on Busan’s Gadeok Island and the redevelopment of the city’s north port will proceed as planned, despite the failure to host the World Expo 2030.
Regarding real estate policies, he said the average housing price increase has slowed down, due to regulations on loans and high interest rates.