Kim Kyung-soo: "Presidential Office Move from Yongsan to Sejong... Administrative Capital Must Be Completed"

"Relocating to Sejong City is the Most Realistic Plan"
"Promote 'Martial Law Ban' Constitutional Amendment First, Followed by 'Local Decentralization' Amendment"

Former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo said on the 18th, "It is time to quickly decide where the Presidential Office should be relocated."

Before attending a seminar titled "Plans and Challenges for the Relocation of the Administrative Capital to Sejong," hosted by Democratic Party lawmakers Kang Jun-hyun and Kim Young-bae at the National Assembly Members' Office Building that morning, Kim told reporters, "The next president cannot realistically move back to Yongsan, and there are various security and protection issues with using the fully open Blue House again."

Kim added, "The relocation of the administrative capital was also a dream of former President Roh Moo-hyun during the Participatory Government era. Due to the Constitutional Court's ruling of unconstitutionality based on customary law, it could not advance to an administrative capital and remained as the Administrative City, but now I think it is time to complete it as an administrative capital."

He continued, "At present, the most realistic plan is to resolve institutional issues related to the administrative capital and quickly relocate the Presidential Office to Sejong City."

Kim also emphasized the need for constitutional amendment. He explained that a "two-step constitutional amendment" is necessary: voting on an amendment to make martial law impossible in the next presidential election, followed by a local decentralization amendment later.

Former Governor of Gyeongnam Province Kim Kyung-soo is speaking with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, at the National Assembly on February 13, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

He said, "The image of the head of state is that of a ruler above the three branches of government, which influenced President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration of martial law, so this must be removed." He also argued, "Only South Korea and Japan refer to local governments as 'local autonomous bodies.' For proper local decentralization, the constitutional amendment must change this to 'local governments'."

Regarding the criticism that "Representative Lee Jae-myung's high unfavorable rating is causing a lack of support from moderate voters," Kim said, "It is true that the Democratic Party does not receive overwhelming support from the public. We are making various efforts to resolve this, and if we continue these efforts, we can solve such problems."

Meanwhile, Lee Kwang-jae, former Secretary-General, who gave the keynote speech at the forum that day, said, "If the National Assembly and the Presidential Office are relocated to Sejong City, Yeouido, where height restrictions would be lifted, could become an international financial district, and the area near the 1 million-pyeong Yongsan US military base could transform into a world-class cultural and future hub." He urged, "The Democratic Party should quickly launch a committee to promote the administrative capital."