Table of Contents
- “Sejong as the Administrative Capital, Daejeon as the Science Capital”… Plan for Administrative Reform Targeting Public Sentiment in Chungcheong Region
- Full Relocation of the National Assembly and the Presidential Office to Sejong City
- Resumption of Second Public Institution Relocation and Vision for the Chungcheong Industrial Belt
- Expected Effects: Balanced Development of Administration, Industry, and Society Overall
- Political Risks and Regional Conflicts… How to Resolve Them?
- Starting Point for National Reorganization Centered on Chungcheong
“Sejong as the Administrative Capital, Daejeon as the Science Capital”… Plan for Administrative Reform Targeting Public Sentiment in Chungcheong Region
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, announced his pledge to develop Sejong City into a true ‘administrative capital’. He presented specific plans for relocating the presidential office and the National Assembly to Sejong.
This strategy targets public sentiment in the Chungcheong region and is garnering attention as a means to solve the overpopulation problem in the metropolitan area and achieve national balanced development.
Full Relocation of the National Assembly and the Presidential Office to Sejong City
Candidate Lee emphasized the importance of Sejong City during a meeting held on April 17 at the Defense Science Research Institute in Yuseong District, Daejeon, through social media. He stated, "I will design and complete the National Assembly building and the presidential office in Sejong during my term and transfer the functions of both institutions to Sejong."
Candidate Lee proposed a three-phase plan:
First, a temporary utilization of the presidential office in Yongsan. Second, relocating the current Blue House back to the Government Seoul Complex. Finally, including the design and long-term relocation of a new office in Sejong.
However, he emphasized that a complete relocation would require a revision of the constitutional provision regarding the capital, thus necessitating national and societal consensus before proceeding with constitutional amendment procedures.
Resumption of Second Public Institution Relocation and Vision for the Chungcheong Industrial Belt
Candidate Lee pledged to immediately resume the second public institution relocation that was halted in 2019.
Through this, he plans to relocate major public institutions and central administrative agencies to Sejong City, Daejeon, Chungbuk, and Chungnam.
This measure aims to consolidate functions at a regional level and create synergies.
He announced the concept of a 'Chungcheong High-tech Industrial Belt'. This strategy focuses on integrative establishment of industrial clusters by leveraging the characteristics of each region.
Sejong is set to develop as a smart administrative capital, while Daejeon plans to position itself as a hub for artificial intelligence and the space industry. Chungbuk will concentrate on bio, semiconductor, and secondary battery industries, while Chungnam will serve as a hub for the display industry and the broader coastal area.
This approach emphasizes supporting R&D budgets and fostering global innovation hubs. The goal is to invigorate local economies and promote the development of advanced industries.
Expected Effects: Balanced Development of Administration, Industry, and Society Overall
If Lee Jae-myung’s pledges are realized, five benefits are expected.
A solution to the overpopulation problem in the metropolitan area is needed. This can help disperse the population concentrated in Seoul, alleviating burdens related to housing, transportation, and living costs.
Additionally, clusters combining administrative, industrial, and research functions are expected to form in Sejong, Daejeon, and the Chungcheong region, creating numerous quality jobs. This will significantly contribute to invigorating the local economy.
Improving administrative efficiency is also an important factor. Collaboration among government departments will strengthen, speeding up processing times for civil complaints and enhancing the overall quality of administrative services.
Moreover, the nation’s security and crisis management systems will be strengthened. By distributing key functions, continuity of administration will be maintained in the event of disasters or terrorist incidents, and risk management can be carried out more effectively.
Finally, efforts for balanced regional development and improved quality of life are also essential. As public services, education, and cultural infrastructure are expanded, concentration of populations in the metropolitan area can be alleviated, and local communities can be invigorated. These changes are expected to have a positive impact on our society as a whole.
Political Risks and Regional Conflicts… How to Resolve Them?
This pledge aims for a massive transfer of administrative functions following the unconstitutional decision on the new administrative capital in 2004. Legislative action and social discussions by the National Assembly are essential for this. Specifically, the candidate emphasized right after announcing the pledge that “to reduce political and legal risks, we will approach this step by step and undergo a process of public discussion through forums.”
However, there are also significant opposing opinions. For instance, civic groups in Incheon have strongly opposed the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ pledge to relocate to Busan, stating, “There are concerns about a second concentration phenomenon in the metropolitan area.” In response, the candidate’s side stated, “This is just a draft for balanced regional development, and we plan to refine it by reflecting the opinions of localities.”
Starting Point for National Reorganization Centered on Chungcheong
The pledge for relocation of the administrative capital proposed by candidate Lee Jae-myung aims to go beyond mere regional development, targeting the alleviation of excessive concentration in the metropolitan area and the advancement into a state centered around high-tech industries. Especially, the concept of a complex innovation belt for administration and industry centered on the Chungcheong region is regarded as an important plan that can bring substantial changes to the lives of local residents.
If this pledge is adopted as a national agenda in upcoming presidential elections and constitutional amendments reflecting the opinions of the National Assembly and citizens are carried out, it could present an opportunity for significant changes in the structure of the Korean territory and the way the country is operated.
#SejongAssembly, #PresidentialOfficeSejong, #LeeJaeMyungPledge, #RelocationOfTheAdministrativeCapital, #NationalAssemblySejongRelocation, #PresidentialOfficeMoveToSejong, #ChungcheongRegionPledges, #SejongSmartAdministrativeCapital, #DaejeonScienceCapital, #ChungbukFutureIndustry, #ChungnamDisplayHub, #SecondPublicInstitutionRelocation, #BalancedDevelopmentPledge, #LeeJaeMyungPresidentialElectionPledge, #PresidentialElectionPledge2025, #ChungcheongPublicSentiment, #AdministrativeReorganization, #KoreaAdministrativeCapital, #SejongAdministrativeFunctionConcentration, #NationalTerritoryBalancedDevelopment, #BlueHouseSejongRelocation, #YongsanPresidentialOffice, #AdministrativeCapitalConstitutionalAmendment, #OverpopulationResolutionInMetropolitanArea, #RegionalInnovationCluster, #SejongRelocationRoadmap, #LeeJaeMyungSejongRelocation, #PolicyPledgeAnalysis, #SejongInnovationCity
