Candidate Kim Byung-joon for 'Sejong-eul': "Sejong Must Allow Diverse Education and Research... Will Make It a National Agenda"

Kim Byung-jun, Election Countermeasures Committee Chairman for the Chungcheong Region of the United Future Party. / Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Kim Byung-joon, the United Future Party candidate running for Sejong-eul in the April 15 general election, said, "Education and research that cannot be done in Seoul should be allowed to be carried out according to the will of the citizens in Sejong," adding, "I will persuade that Sejong's issues are Korea's issues and complete Sejong-eul."

We met candidate Kim on the 30th at the election office in Jongchon-dong, Sejong City. The following is a Q&A.

- How is the election atmosphere?

▲ There are no people on the streets. We have to abandon the idea of direct contact and think of other methods. The number of party members also differs from that of the Democratic Party of Korea. In the past two elections, the United Future Party has never received more than 20% of the votes in this area. We spent two full weeks just gathering basic information. In fact, you can say that the first campaign started only yesterday. Once the real full-scale election campaign begins, people will start looking up who Kim Byung-joon is, and that will be the start.

- You are called the designer of Sejong City?

▲ When you say designer, some think I designed the buildings here, but that's not the case. I designed the big concept of the administrative capital.

- You often said the original design was different from the current state?

▲ Although it was named the administrative capital, administration is not everything. The idea was not just to move administrative functions but to have other functions and industries relocate here, and for the people who moved here to be able to engage in creative and innovative work. Korea has two special autonomous regions, Jeju and Sejong, where bold decentralization and deregulation are considered to the extent of entrusting everything to autonomy. For this area, regulations should be drastically relaxed, but that is not happening now.

- What was the original vision for Green Sejong City?

▲ It was various forms of deregulation and strengthening of autonomy. Through this, things that cannot be done in Seoul could be done in Sejong, education that cannot be done in Busan could be done in Sejong, and performances that cannot be done in Daejeon could be done in Sejong. The original dream was to create a free city. Many companies, research institutes, and educational institutions would come in search of that freedom. Furthermore, when good effects are produced, they would spread outward. I dreamed that Sejong City would open Korea's future and secure its status.

- How is it now?

▲ Now, there is neither expansion of autonomy nor deregulation. Government ministries are functioning reasonably well, but aren't there just many high-rise buildings around? There are many vacant stores as well. When I first designed Sejong, I dreamed of a very rural and environmentally friendly city. But now, there are quite a few places with only concrete apartment cliffs and no open spaces. The capital logic of high-density use came first. The government should have pushed firmly for Sejong's development, but at some point, it lost grip. People without dreams sitting in the region doing administration and politics seem to have missed the chance.

- Why is that a problem?

▲ Sejong is being perceived as a new town adjacent to Seoul. People with jobs in Daejeon move here. If it becomes a bedroom town of Daejeon, people's interest will go to Daejeon, not Sejong. The same goes for consumption. Sejong's dream must not disappear like this. I believe that dream must be revived. It is basic that a branch of the National Assembly and the presidential office come to Sejong, but beyond that, there must be education, culture, and industry.

- What is the solution?

▲ Expansion of autonomy and deregulation must be done simultaneously. Especially, deregulation on education and culture must be drastically implemented. So that education that cannot be done in Seoul can be done in Sejong.

- Please be specific.

▲ Even in elementary education, there are alternative schools in Seoul. I will make it possible for such schools to operate more freely in Sejong. In Seoul, alternative schools are outside compulsory education, so parents have to bear all costs. It costs about 5 to 10 million won per year, so ordinary people cannot send their children to alternative schools even if they want to. But in Sejong, I want to include all of that within compulsory education. If mothers form various types of education cooperatives they want, they should be supported within the compulsory education system. Various educational experiments that produce good results can then be expanded within the public education system elsewhere. In Sejong, parents should be allowed to realize their wishes. Sejong was not created just to follow central government orders. People doing politics and administration in Sejong should dream such dreams.

- There are many criticisms about regional imbalance as well.

▲ I agree. Balanced development of the northern region is urgent. We need to increase the resident and floating population to develop this area. With incentives and drastic deregulation, things that cannot be done elsewhere should be possible in Sejong, attracting companies and research institutes. A pledge to create a kind of startup valley centered around universities is part of this. Research that cannot be done in Seoul will be possible here. For example, drones are not allowed to fly, but here they could be allowed, which could be one method.

- Compared to Jeju, a special autonomous province, is there a difference in authority?

▲ Jeju has autonomous police. It has almost abolished central government frontline agencies and transferred all those powers to the Jeju governor. But Sejong is not like that. At the stage of city growth, special tax treatment and more finances should be given. Part of the value-added tax is taken and given as local consumption tax, and Sejong should have a larger share, but the central government is not doing that. Even though it is the region where the party leader is, that was not achieved. There is no such dream or concept.

- It doesn't seem easy to implement.

▲ Therefore, we must persuade that Sejong's dream is Korea's future. It is necessary to set the agenda that Sejong's development is important for the nation's future. If it were a task isolated only to this region, would I have come this far with the spirit of jumping into a death trap? I know the jealousy of surrounding regions. But if Sejong changes, Daejeon, Cheonan, and the surrounding areas will change. At the national level, it means balanced development of the central region. Therefore, it is not a zero-sum game. It is a win-win for all.

- Is there a reason it must be Kim Byung-joon?

▲ If you think the completion of Sejong City belongs to Sejong City, who will you persuade? The person who says he will change Korea with Sejong's dream is the one who can persuade lawmakers, the media, and intellectual society to gain momentum for Sejong's development. If you cannot get out of regional-centered thinking, Sejong will not escape becoming a bedroom town of Daejeon. To complete Sejong, you must be able to draw a picture that Sejong's issues are Korea's issues. I will create that.

- There are criticisms that you have no local ties and will leave.

▲ People say it is because I have presidential ambitions, but the more so, I will plant a flag in Sejong and stay to bring more to the Chungcheong region. I am not from Sejong, but I made Sejong City. If I emphasized my origin, I would have proposed moving the administrative capital to my hometown, Daegu or Dalseong-gun. Even if I am a stranger, please see who has more attachment to Sejong. If we talk about ties, I (who designed Sejong) have as much connection to this area as someone born here.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.