Choi Minho Steps Up Efforts to Block MOF Relocation to Busan
Urges Party Leadership to Oppose Policy Contradictions in Meeting with Jang Donghyuk
Jang Donghyuk (left), the leader of the People Power Party, and Choi Minho, the mayor of Sejong City, are having a conversation. / Photo by Planning and Coordination Office
As political logic and administrative rule of law clash over the planned relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) and its affiliated public institutions to Busan, Choi Minho, the mayor of Sejong City, has been tirelessly working to prevent the government’s relocation of the MOF.
On September 5, Mayor Choi met with Jang Donghyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, and requested that the party lend its support so that the ongoing discussions regarding the relocation of MOF-affiliated institutions could be thoroughly reconsidered. He asked the party to officially express its opposition to the relocation of MOF-affiliated public institutions, which runs counter to the existing public institution relocation policy.
Mayor Choi conveyed his view that the relocation of MOF-affiliated institutions should be fully reconsidered, as it does not align with the principles and rationale of the government’s public institution relocation policy. He stated, “It is difficult to accept that only Sejong-based institutions with little relevance are being relocated to Busan, while the Korea Polar Research Institute, which is most closely related to the goal of opening the Arctic Sea Route, is excluded from the discussion.” He further emphasized, “If the logic is that all public institutions must follow the MOF to Busan, then, by the same logic, all 14 agencies under ministries based in Sejong should move to the regions, just like the Korean Film Council under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which is located in Busan.”
In particular, Mayor Choi stressed that the relocation of public institutions is a fundamentally different issue from the relocation of ministries.
He argued that, since the relocation of public institutions has been pursued under the Special Act on the Promotion of Balanced National Development with the goal of balanced regional development centered around innovation cities, the Local Era Committee, which oversees this process, should make a consistent and comprehensive review before making any decisions.
He also pointed out concerns that the sudden and unprincipled relocation of public institutions could harm their employees. He stated, “The issue of relocating MOF-affiliated institutions is not just a problem for Sejong City, but is about maintaining consistency in the national balanced development policy and the public institution relocation policy,” and again asked the party to officially express its opposition.
Jang Donghyuk responded, “I fully understand Mayor Choi’s concerns, and I believe it is reasonable to consider the residential issues of affiliated institution employees when relocating. The government needs to comprehensively review these matters and come up with countermeasures.” Previously, on September 3, Mayor Choi also met with Prime Minister Kim Minseok to strongly urge a complete reconsideration of the plan to relocate MOF-affiliated institutions to Busan.
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