President Lee: "Full Relocation of Sejong Office Difficult... Will Expedite Second Office"

President Lee Jae Myung is answering citizens' questions at the 'People Communication Campaign Part 2, Listening to the Heart of Chungcheong' meeting held in a town hall meeting format at Daejeon Convention Center on the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News

President Lee Jae Myung announced on the 4th that he would establish the second presidential office in Sejong and expedite the relocation process.

President Lee made this statement in response to a question about "when the presidential office will move to Sejong" during a town hall meeting held at the Daejeon Convention Center in the afternoon, under the theme "People Communication Campaign: Listening to the Heart of Chungcheong."

President Lee said, "I will try to make it happen as soon as possible," but also explained, "Completely relocating the presidential office to Sejong is a constitutional amendment issue, so it is not that easy." He added, "Since the Constitutional Court has already ruled it unconstitutional based on customary constitutional law, it is not easy to violate this at will."

President Lee continued, "Nevertheless, making Chungcheong the administrative capital or relocating the presidential office to Sejong has been a longstanding agenda," emphasizing, "I believe it is right to keep this long-standing promise from the perspective of balanced regional development."

However, President Lee raised the possibility of a partial relocation, saying, "It is possible to build a second presidential office in Sejong and have some work done there, while still working in Seoul." He also mentioned, "It is possible to build the National Assembly building in Sejong, so I intend to accelerate the process."

Regarding opposition in the Chungcheong region to relocating the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan, President Lee asked, "I hope the citizens of Chungcheong, Daejeon, and Sejong will understand." He explained, "The Chungcheong region is already benefiting from the relocation of the administrative capital. From the perspective of Busan citizens, even if the entire administrative capital cannot be moved to Busan, wouldn't it be disappointing if there is opposition to relocating just the one ministry, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, which is truly needed?"