"Frustrated Over the Possibility of South Chungcheong Province and Daejeon Being Left Out of Administrative Integration
There Is No Possibility of Discriminatory Support Between Regions"
Prime Minister Kim Minseok said on the 10th regarding the second phase of public institution relocations, "In the first half of this year, we will refine the details based on clear principles, but I expect the actual decisions to be made starting in the second half."
During the government questioning session at the National Assembly that day, when Jang Cheolmin, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, asked whether there were plans to give preferential treatment to integrated metropolitan cities when relocating public institutions, Prime Minister Kim replied, "We will give priority consideration to integrated areas." He then added, "As much as possible, we will relocate institutions that are related to the respective regions, but I believe it is more desirable to enhance concentration rather than dispersing them," and forecast, "The Prime Minister's Office will be substantially involved in the second phase of public institution relocations as well."
When Assemblyman Jang mentioned that in the case of South Chungcheong Province and Daejeon, where the heads of local governments belong to the People Power Party, there is a rumor that "South Chungcheong Province and Daejeon alone oppose the plan and could be excluded from administrative integration," Prime Minister Kim lamented, "Three regions have been under discussion, and I feel frustrated wondering what would happen if Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province, where discussions began first, were to drop out."
Prime Minister Kim Minseok is answering questions during the government's economic questioning at the National Assembly plenary session on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
When Assemblyman Jang asked about the possibility of regional discrimination in special provisions on authority and finance, Prime Minister Kim repeatedly stressed, "That cannot happen." He went on to say, "It is the clash of private interests, which are different from the public interest that wide-area integration will bring, that is spreading such claims," and pointed out, "I am concerned that this could ultimately be harmful to residents in the long term."
He continued, "In a situation where Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, and Gwangju and South Jeolla Province choose integration, if Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province are left out, the outcome four years from now is very clear," emphasizing the point. Prime Minister Kim also responded to questions about special provisions related to the establishment of the "Chungcheong Industrial Investment Corporation," saying, "I believe it is fully open to consideration."
Meanwhile, when Cha Gyugeun, a lawmaker from the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, asked about his stance on the party's proposed "three new land public concept bills," Prime Minister Kim assessed, "The land public concept can be interpreted, on the one hand, as something that can exist, and on the other hand, as a policy that has already been ruled unconstitutional." He added, "We should move forward with policy debates by presenting policy measures and legal provisions that provide real benefits to the people without being ruled unconstitutional or incompatible with the Constitution."
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