[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Byung-joon, Chairman of the Sejong City Committee of the United Future Party, emphasized that the ruling party should understand the reality rather than unconditionally pushing for the relocation of the administrative capital, saying, "The president should immediately move to Sejong City." He also suggested installing the president's second office in Sejong and visiting two days a week to conduct work.
On the 27th, Chairman Kim appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and said, "(If the president) goes down two days a week, he will realize that relocating the administrative capital is not just about moving the National Assembly and the Blue House."
He stressed, "If we are to prepare, deliberate, and discuss, let's do so with knowledge," adding, "Many ministries have already moved to Sejong City, but it is showing signs of a self-sufficient city, and it does not yet have the stature of a truly important new city."
He meant that instead of just talking about relocating the administrative capital, the substance must be taken care of. He said, "People from the Chungcheong region are moving to Sejong City, but the movement of the metropolitan population is very minimal, and even government officials are not moving with their families," adding, "It is failing to fulfill its role in balanced development and as a new city concept, and it is not something that can be achieved just by moving."
Chairman Kim criticized, "All the other subsidiary tasks must be completed, but there is no consideration for that at all, and suddenly this issue is being raised," adding, "With the current real estate issues and problems with the regime's morality, it seems like it was just carelessly thrown out there."
He said, "Nevertheless, if the ruling party pushes strongly like this, the public and the opposition must properly address this issue and come up with a proper alternative," emphasizing, "We can find a way to relocate the capital without amending the constitution."
He suggested that moving the presidential office is a shortcut to enabling the capital relocation without constitutional amendment. Chairman Kim said, "According to the Constitutional Court's decision, the locations of the National Assembly and the president's office are currently considered the capital. Therefore, establishing a branch office or a second office of the president, or installing the president's second office, could make this possible," adding, "Wouldn't this change the 'custom' in the so-called 'customary constitution'?"
He added, "If the president frequently goes down to work and we take time to start with what we can do, and then truly change the customs, it will work," adding, "There are many things that can be done without amending the constitution, and they can be done practically."
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