Government to settle Hyundai Asan's inter-Korean train costs for the first time in 17 years

Hyundai Asan is expected to be able to recover the cost of the Gyeongui Line freight train operation project in 2007 for the first time in 17 years.

The Ministry of Unification responded to the Democratic Party of Korea's Kim Young-bae's question about the results of the inter-Korean freight train project claim, saying, "We are discussing payment according to the judgment and will pay the unpaid amount according to the procedure."

Hyundai Asan carried out a government service project to transport raw materials and production goods from the Kaesong Industrial Complex with a Gyeongui Line freight train in 2007 during the Roh Moo Hyun government, but the project was canceled the following year due to North Korea's land traffic restrictions.

Since then, the Lee Myung Bak government has belatedly filed a lawsuit against the government after it failed to receive settlement of business expenses due to insufficient contract signing at the time.

In July, the first trial court ordered the government to pay 8 billion won, including project costs and delayed interest, which the government did not give Hyundai Asan, and the ruling was confirmed because the government did not appeal.