[2026 Parliamentary Audit] Interior Minister on Criticism of Indirect Investment in Han River Bus: "Will Also Consider an Accounting Audit"

"Seoul's Central Investment Review Request for Next Year Effectively Rejected"
Sunshine Income Villages to Expand to More Than 3,000 by 2030

Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Hojung said he would explore every available measure in response to allegations that the Seoul Metropolitan Government is indirectly investing in the Han River Bus project through the Seoul Housing & Communities Corporation (SH).

Yoon Hojoong, Minister of the Interior and Safety, and Kim Jiyong, chief of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, wait for the start of a comprehensive parliamentary audit of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and other agencies at the National Assembly on the 26th. 2026.10.26 Photo by Yoon Dongju

Minister Yoon made the remarks on the 26th during a comprehensive audit by the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee. He was responding to Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Jumin, who said, “I hope you will pay attention to preventing the Seoul Metropolitan Government from engaging in unlawful conduct indirectly through SH.”

Citing a central investment review request that the Seoul Metropolitan Government reportedly submitted to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Park said, “The Seoul Metropolitan Government says the expected benefits of the Han River Bus project include expanding citizens’ transportation options and improving convenience for commuting, but not a single vessel has operated during commuting hours.” He also pointed out, “Advertising revenue is set to suddenly double next year, but the investment request contains no explanation of how advertising revenue will be doubled. And although the passenger figures are in the same request, the numbers on page 11 do not match those on page 16 at all.”

Park then asked, “The Ministry of the Interior and Safety cannot simply proceed based on this request as it stands. Is it true that you sent an official letter ordering a reexamination?”

Minister Yoon replied that the decision was “effectively a rejection,” explaining that the Seoul Metropolitan Government had submitted a plan to reduce the project’s deficit, but that “the plan is based on insufficient evidence and contains claims that cannot be trusted.”

In response to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-bae, who said that Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Seoul Metropolitan Government officials had given false testimony during the city’s recent parliamentary audit and raised the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s obligation to audit the city, Minister Yoon said, “An audit of the Seoul Metropolitan Government is possible,” adding, “We will consider it.”

Regarding the Sunshine Income Village program, whose project procedures are underway nationwide, Minister Yoon said, “If it is possible to establish more than 3,000 by 2030, we intend to do so.”

Asked by Democratic Party lawmaker Park Jeong-hyeon whether the government planned to expand eligibility, given that applications for the Sunshine Income Village program are currently limited to eup, myeon and ri areas, excluding places that are actually rural but administratively classified as dong areas, Minister Yoon replied, “We are considering expanding the eligible areas to include dong areas that have rural characteristics.”

Sunshine Income Village is a renewable energy program in which residents participate in solar power projects in their villages, with the resulting revenue returned to the village community and residents. A total of 523 villages were selected through the first and second rounds of applications, and the third round is open until October 30.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.