Choi Hyung-doo: "Kim Tae-nyeon's 'Proposal to Relocate the Administrative Capital' Only Raised Sejong City's Housing Prices"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Choi Hyung-doo, floor spokesperson of the United Future Party, evaluated Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea's proposal to relocate the administrative capital as "only raising the housing prices in Sejong City."

On the 23rd, Choi said on YTN Radio's 'Start New Morning,' "Should the issue of housing prices be concluded as only raising the housing prices in Sejong City?" Earlier, Floor Leader Kim proposed relocating the National Assembly and the Blue House to Sejong City during the negotiation group leaders' speech.

Choi said, "The context of the speech was that housing prices in Seoul have risen too much, so the logic was to complete the relocation of the administrative capital to control housing prices," expressing concern that "as a result, only housing prices in Sejong City are rising. It is said that housing prices in Sejong City have already increased by 200 million won."

He added, "There remains a constitutional issue," explaining, "During President Roh Moo-hyun's administration in 2004, there was a proposal to relocate the administrative capital, but the Constitutional Court ruled it unconstitutional. Unless it is put to a national referendum and the constitution is amended, it is practically impossible."

Choi pointed out, "Originally, the relocation of the administrative capital was created during President Roh Moo-hyun's time for balanced national development," but "looking at the process after moving to Sejong City, while housing prices around Sejong City may have risen, the gap between the metropolitan area and other regions nationwide has not narrowed."

He criticized, "Even presidential candidate Lee Nak-yeon said this issue should be based on various premises, but now it seems to be approached too politically," adding, "It seems like a shallow card to avoid the rise in housing prices in the metropolitan area, but this will likely provoke anger among voters in the metropolitan area and other regions."

Regarding the push to establish independent institutions such as the Sports Ethics Center to prevent a recurrence of the late athlete Choi Sook-hyun incident, he pointed out, "There have been quite a few reports of corruption, and among the types of corruption, the most common is the privatization of organizations," and within the sports community, even if you speak up, those people (criminals) are not properly disciplined and return as coaches," he said.

He continued, "The discussion so far has been that there is a need for a center independent from the Sports Council and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism that can independently investigate, report, discipline, and provide legal support," emphasizing, "This should not become a position for filling seats or personnel appointments within the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism again, nor should it be a place compromised by ties to the sports community, losing its independence. The National Assembly must thoroughly supervise it."

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