Choi Minho Stresses "Korea Polar Research Institute Should Move First for Arctic Shipping Route Development"
Calls for Comprehensive Review of Public Institution Relocation Policy
Proposes Global Talent Development and Strengthening Sejong as Administrative Capital
Choi Minho, Mayor of Sejong City, emphasized, "If the relocation of public institutions is necessary to successfully develop the Arctic shipping route, which is the purpose of relocating the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, then the Korea Polar Research Institute, which is most closely related, should be the first to move."
On September 3, Mayor Choi made these remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Kim Minseok at the Prime Minister's Office in the Government Complex Sejong. He mentioned the need to complete the administrative capital and proposed a comprehensive review of the relocation of public institutions under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
This meeting was arranged so that Mayor Choi could explain major issues facing Sejong City, such as the completion of the administrative capital, and to request active support and cooperation from the central government. In particular, he stressed that the relocation of public institutions under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries should be reconsidered, as it contradicts the principles and logic of the public institution relocation policy that has been promoted for balanced national development.
Mayor Choi explained, "If the government's logic is that ministries and public institutions should be located near each other for maximum effectiveness, then all public institutions related to the 14 central government ministries in Sejong should also be located in Sejong. From the perspective of policy consistency, this contradicts the government's public institution relocation policy that has been pursued for balanced national development."
He also proposed fostering global talent through Official Development Assistance (ODA) in connection with the city's key project of promoting and globalizing Hangeul and Hangeul culture. Specifically, he suggested establishing the Korea Polytechnic University Sejong International Campus and developing new ODA programs to provide both Korean language and technical education to outstanding international talent.
Although some initiatives are already underway, he also requested full support for Sejong City's key issues, including: the completion and full relocation of the Presidential Sejong Office and the National Assembly Sejong Building within the current administration's term; the relocation of central administrative agencies that have not yet moved from the Seoul metropolitan area to Sejong; and strengthening Sejong's role as the administrative capital through the relocation of public institutions.
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