Agency Relocation to Daejeon as ‘KMA+2’ Instead of Ministry of SMEs and Startups... One More Site Under Discussion

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun visited Daejeon on the 8th to announce the relocation plans of three institutions, including the Korea Meteorological Administration, to Daejeon. The relocation plan for the Korea Meteorological Administration and others is a follow-up measure to fill the gap left by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, which announced its relocation plan to Sejong last year. Photo by Daejeon City

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is relocating from Daejeon to Sejong, coinciding with the confirmed relocation of three institutions, including the Korea Meteorological Administration, to Daejeon.

According to Daejeon City on the 9th, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced this government agency relocation plan while attending the 'March 8 Democratic Uprising Commemoration Ceremony' held at Boramae Park in Daejeon the previous day.

The government agency relocation plan includes the Korea Meteorological Administration, Korea Forest Service Promotion Institute, and Korea Meteorological Industry Technology Institute. Contrary to initial expectations that three institutions besides the Korea Meteorological Administration would move to Daejeon, only two institutions besides the Korea Meteorological Administration have been confirmed to relocate to Daejeon.

However, Prime Minister Chung hinted at the possibility of the remaining one institution relocating in the future.

First, Prime Minister Chung explained the background of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' relocation and the replacement institutions moving to Daejeon, stating, "With the Ministry's elevation to a government department, the relocation of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to Sejong has become inevitable. The government is promoting the relocation of three institutions, including the Korea Meteorological Administration, to Daejeon as a national policy to replace the Ministry of SMEs and Startups."

He added, "Besides the already confirmed Korea Meteorological Administration and two other institutions, discussions are currently underway regarding the relocation of the remaining one institution, and it is expected that it will not take long before an additional announcement is made."

Prime Minister Chung also ruled out any connection between Daejeon's designation as an innovation city and the relocation plans of the Korea Meteorological Administration and others. "The government designated Daejeon as an innovation city last year," he said, emphasizing, "This is clearly a separate matter from the relocation plans of the three institutions following the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' move."

Meanwhile, the city plans to ensure smooth administrative procedures such as site selection through cooperation and communication with the three institutions, including the Korea Meteorological Administration.