On September 16, President Lee Jaemyung expressed his strong commitment to the swift construction of the second presidential office during a cabinet meeting held at the Government Complex Sejong. In response, the local political community issued a statement on September 17, welcoming the announcement. This statement was in answer to President Lee's remarks during the cabinet meeting, where he referred to Sejong City as a "symbol of balanced regional development" and reiterated his determination to establish the presidential office in Sejong.
The city council assessed that this first cabinet meeting since the launch of the new administration was not merely a routine gathering, but rather marked a historic first step and a signal flare for the completion of balanced national development.
Along with the approval of 123 national policy tasks and the presentation of a roadmap to guide state affairs during the new administration, the council noted that several key initiatives-such as the construction of the National Assembly Sejong Branch and the presidential office in Sejong after social consensus, the inclusion of constitutional amendments to officially designate the administrative capital, and the initiation of the second phase of public institution relocations-are all converging toward the single goal of "balanced national development."
In particular, the council highlighted that the administration’s "Five Core Development Zones and Three Special Self-Governing Provinces" strategy-which includes five key regions and the special self-governing provinces of Gangwon, North Jeolla, and Jeju-has become a central policy topic, further emphasizing the importance of completing Sejong as the administrative capital as a cornerstone of balanced development.
The council stated it deeply resonates with the new government's view, as expressed during the cabinet meeting, that "the major challenge facing the Republic of Korea is sustainable growth, and the greatest foundation for that is balanced development." The council welcomed the fact that its numerous efforts toward completing the administrative capital are now gaining momentum through the government's concrete commitment.
The council declared, "We will continue our active legislative efforts to ensure that local autonomy takes root in citizens’ lives, preventing the vicious cycle of local extinction and population concentration from recurring." It added, "Until the day when balanced national development and the completion of the administrative capital-long-cherished aspirations of the Chungcheong region and a national mission-are fully realized and exert their influence, we will spare no effort or determination."
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