Choi Minho: "Measures Are Essential to Dispel Concerns Over Balanced Development"

Policy Proposals to President Lee Jaemyung at June 11 Press Briefing

The National Planning Committee held a press briefing on the 11th, where Sejong Mayor Choi Minho expressed his position regarding the selection of tasks for the rapid promotion of the presidential office in Sejong.
Photo by Policy Planning Officer, Office of Planning and Coordination

"We welcome, together with the 400,000 citizens of Sejong, the selection of the Presidential Sejong Office construction as a task for prompt advancement, and the government's announcement proposing to swiftly begin the design competition."

Mayor Choi Minho of Sejong City made these remarks during a press briefing on the 11th.

Recently, Park Soo-hyun, Chair of the Special Committee on National Balanced Development of the National Planning Committee, selected the construction of the Presidential Sejong Office as a task for prompt advancement. Prior to this, on the 1st, Mayor Choi had conveyed citizens' concerns regarding the completion of the administrative capital during a meeting between President Lee Jaemyung and the governors and mayors from across the country. The subsequent announcement by the Special Committee on National Balanced Development of the National Planning Committee is seen as a result of the consensus formed on this issue.

The announcement by the National Planning Committee regarding the selection of tasks for prompt advancement is being interpreted as a positive response from the government, and as the new administration's official expression of its commitment to the practical realization of the administrative capital.

However, concerns among citizens persist regarding the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan. This is because the decision to relocate this ministry to Busan could serve as a precedent, raising the possibility of additional central government agencies currently located in Sejong also being moved. If this occurs, concerns about the contraction of the local economy are expected to intensify.

Furthermore, during the process of electing the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, the idea of establishing the Ministry of Climate and Energy in the Honam region has been raised, which has also led to concerns about undermining the completion of the administrative capital.

In response, Mayor Choi proposed policies aimed at alleviating the concerns of the local community.

He stated, "In order to dispel the public's concerns and desire for balanced national development, additional measures are absolutely necessary," and added, "The government must prepare an implementation roadmap detailing the scale, timing, and key functions of the relocation of the National Assembly Sejong Office and the Presidential Sejong Office, and clearly express the President's commitment to completing the administrative capital."

He went on to emphasize, "The relocation of central government ministries that have not yet moved to the Government Sejong Complex, such as the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Unification, is needed to increase the concentration and efficiency of administrative functions."

He also expressed the view that the relocation to Sejong should be promoted for the five commissions that can be moved without legislative amendments?namely, the National Human Rights Commission, the Personal Information Protection Commission, the Korea Communications Commission, the Financial Services Commission, and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission?as well as presidential commissions.

To strengthen the identity of Sejong as a city of Hangeul culture, he also proposed including public institutions related to Hangeul, such as the Hangeul Museum and the Sejong Institute Foundation, as part of the second phase of relocations to Sejong.

Mayor Choi stated, "Sejong, as the central hub of the integration and connection of our country's administrative functions, is fulfilling its role as the de facto administrative capital and as a symbol of balanced national development," and added, "Starting with the designation of prompt advancement tasks by the National Planning Committee, I will ensure that Sejong fulfills its historical mission as the central axis of balanced national development."