Chungcheong Region: "Is the Relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan Making Chungcheong Residents Mere Puppets?"

Joint Statement by Chungcheong Region Governors
Urging Government Action on July 4

Minho Choi, mayor of Sejong City, has been holding a solo protest in front of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries at Government Sejong Complex Building 5 for the past three days, and on the 4th, a joint statement from the Chungcheong region governors was released.

The issue of relocating the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan is emerging as a national issue, extending beyond the Chungcheong region. While Minho Choi, mayor of Sejong City, has been holding a solo protest in front of the Government Sejong Complex for the past three days, on July 4, the four governors of the Chungcheong region issued a joint statement, strongly urging President Jaemyung Lee to withdraw his directive to relocate the ministry to Busan.

The governors of Daejeon, Sejong, South Chungcheong, and North Chungcheong emphasized in their statement, "As we observe the process of promoting the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, we cannot help but express serious concerns about the governance style of the Jaemyung Lee administration."

They stated, "Sejong City, as the new administrative capital, has been a national policy task pursued by successive administrations with the goals of alleviating overpopulation in the Seoul metropolitan area, achieving balanced national development, and strengthening national competitiveness. It is true that the 5.6 million residents of the Chungcheong region placed great trust, expectations, and support in President Jaemyung Lee, who promised to complete the administrative capital during the presidential campaign."

They further pointed out, "Immediately after being elected, President Lee suddenly ordered the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries without making a single mention of his pledge to complete the administrative capital."

In particular, it is expected that there will be backlash, as it has been reported that the governors of the region were not even invited to the town hall meeting with Chungcheong residents presided over by the president in Daejeon on July 4.

The Chungcheong region governors called on the Jaemyung Lee administration to: ▲ make a decision on the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan only after in-depth, expert review and sufficient public discussion; ▲ refrain from setting a deadline for relocation within the year and instead reconsider the issue carefully; and ▲ ensure that, in order to enhance the competitiveness of maritime policy, the ministry's staff are provided with at least adequate quality of life, residential environment, and working conditions so that they can focus on their duties.