President Moon: "Installation of Sejong Assembly Hall to Become a Driving Force to Overcome the Capital Region's 'Unipolar System'" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in mentioned the promulgation of the National Assembly Act amendment, which centers on the 'Establishment of the Sejong Assembly Hall,' and stated, "I hope it becomes a new driving force to overcome the unipolar system where everything is concentrated in the metropolitan area."

On the afternoon of the 14th, President Moon attended the 'Balanced Development Achievements and Ultra-wide Area Cooperation Support Strategy Report' held at the Planning Exhibition Hall of the Government Sejong Convention Center in Sejong City, and said, "With the establishment of the Sejong Assembly Hall, not only will it reduce inefficient administrative waste, but it will also allow administrative functions related to the National Assembly to be concentrated in Sejong City, enabling Sejong City to move closer to becoming a genuine administrative capital."

President Moon expressed concern about the concentration in the metropolitan area, saying, "Since 2019, the population of the metropolitan area has exceeded half of the total population, and economic concentration is intensifying," and presented 'ultra-wide area cooperation' as a solution, stating, "It is a crucial national task that must be resolved for the sustainability of our society."

Through ultra-wide area cooperation, President Moon said, "Let's create a single economic living zone that can compete with the metropolitan area and multi-polarize the Republic of Korea," emphasizing, "If the new model of ultra-wide area cooperation succeeds and spreads, it can reverse the trend of concentration in the metropolitan area and lead to a more balanced and prosperous Korea."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon pointed out that previous administrations had attempted 'ultra-wide area cooperation' but lacked execution power, and expressed confidence, saying, "With the comprehensive revision of the Local Autonomy Act for the first time in 32 years, from January next year, two or more local governments will be able to jointly establish and operate special local governments, thereby institutionally supporting ultra-wide area cooperation."

He added, "Soon, the Special Act on National Balanced Development will also be amended to incorporate ultra-wide area cooperation as a core policy of national balanced development, and with active financial support, a pan-government integrated promotion system will be launched," and mentioned that procedures such as ultra-wide area special agreements and decentralization agreements will be introduced to provide support.

President Moon emphasized, "The government will promptly establish a wide-area transportation network to create a single economic and living zone, and foster growth hubs where jobs, talent, and capital circulate in a virtuous cycle," adding, "We will build a multi-faceted system for regional talent development along with regional university innovation, such as creating an ultra-wide area shared university model, and operate a pan-ministerial cooperation system for this purpose."

Referring to the 'Southeast Mega City Strategy' proposed by Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam in February as a case of full-scale ultra-wide area cooperation, President Moon said, "The government will provide maximum support so that the special local government of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam can be launched within our government's term and become a leading model of ultra-wide area cooperation."

President Moon stated, "If regions pursue creative cooperation plans suited to their characteristics, we will support them wholeheartedly," and added, "We will make ultra-wide area cooperation a new national balanced development strategy and lay the foundation for transforming Korea into a multi-polar system."

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