Kim Byung-joon: "President Moon should show sincerity by working at Sejong Government Complex... Opposition must also prepare countermeasures"

Led Sejong City Relocation and Design During Participatory Government
Former Korean Party Emergency Committee Chairman and Sejong City United Party Candidate in General Election

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Kim Byung-joon, former emergency committee chairman of the Liberty Korea Party who served as the Chief of Policy at the Blue House during the Roh Moo-hyun administration and led the relocation and design of Sejong City, said on the 24th, "The ruling party's level of consideration regarding the relocation of the administrative capital is low," urging President Moon Jae-in to show determination and sincerity by taking the lead. He also advised the opposition, "Even if it is political strategy, they should accept the ruling party's proposal and take the lead on the capital relocation issue."

On the same day, Kim posted on his Facebook, "President Moon should confirm the true meaning of the capital relocation and start by establishing a second office in Sejong City," asserting this point.

As an advocate of decentralization, Kim said, "The imbalance between the metropolitan area and non-metropolitan areas has reached a level that can no longer be ignored," adding, "When asked whether relocating the administrative capital helps balanced development, the answer is definitely yes. Currently, no better alternative has been presented."

However, he emphasized, "If you ask whether relocating the Blue House and the National Assembly will improve the imbalance, the answer is no," explaining, "The current state of Sejong City, where only ministries have moved, suggests that the effect of the capital relocation may not be significant." Kim criticized, "With even public officials reluctant to relocate with their families, the influx of population from the metropolitan area will be minimal," and added, "Ultimately, the main influx is from the Chungcheong region, and due to the lack of jobs, it is turning into a bedroom community for people working in nearby areas like Daejeon."

He stated, "We are no longer in an era where population and businesses move following political or administrative power. For the capital relocation to have a significant effect, it must not be a simple move but should include a special plan for the target area," and pointed out, "From this perspective, the current capital relocation issue raised by the government and the ruling party is very regrettable."

Kim criticized, "Even while invoking President Roh Moo-hyun, it seems they do not know where the concerns were directed and believe that just relocating the capital will attract population and businesses," adding, "Because the level of consideration is low, it is hard to dismiss the idea that this is a political issue raised to dilute real estate concerns."

He said that to make the discussion public, "First, the government and ruling party must show sincerity," and urged them to demonstrate why globalization and localization issues were included in the past Special Act on New Administrative Capital, and how balanced development and capital relocation are connected.

Kim promised, "In the same context, the administrative capital to be relocated to Sejong City should be made a city of education, culture, and free research and development, as well as a city of decentralization and autonomy," and suggested, "I hope President Moon will promise all this and start working at the Sejong Government Complex for several days a week starting from September."

He also emphasized to the United Future Party, which refuses to participate in the discussion, "Even if the ruling party's proposal is political strategy, it should be accepted," and stressed, "Rather, they should create a good plan embodying the spirit of decentralization and autonomy and take the lead on the capital relocation issue." He added, "A party without an alternative for balanced development cannot be called a proper party," and urged, "They should promptly form a special committee to face this issue directly."

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