Public Opinion Survey on the Relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan...

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According to a public opinion survey on how residents of Sejong feel about the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan, 55.1% responded that they are strongly opposed, 7.1% are opposed, 8.5% are neutral, 13.1% are in favor, and 16.2% are strongly in favor.

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Citizens' Watch Group, 62.2% expressed opposition to the relocation to Busan, while 29.3% expressed support. This means that more than twice as many citizens oppose the relocation compared to those who support it. The group pointed out that the survey results show that some lawmakers who have publicly supported the relocation to Busan may be out of touch with the will of the citizens.

The Watch Group stated that the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is not simply a matter of moving one government department, but has significant economic repercussions for Sejong. They emphasized that changing the location of a central administrative agency constitutes a major exercise of public authority and is a specific administrative action. They also noted that such an administrative action has not gone through concrete implementation steps.

Therefore, they argued that the relocation itself directly infringes upon fundamental rights and violates the Special Act on the Construction of Sejong City, raising constitutional issues. For this reason, they have filed a constitutional complaint with the Constitutional Court. They also pointed out that this move goes directly against the founding purpose of Sejong City as a future strategic city created to resolve the overconcentration in the capital region and maximize efficiency among government ministries. They stated, "Based on the results of the public opinion survey, we will continue to fight against the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries."

Meanwhile, the Citizens' Watch Group commissioned MetaSearch, a professional polling agency, to conduct a survey of public awareness on major policy issues from August 12 to August 14. The survey was conducted 100.0% via landline ARS (automated response system), with a valid sample of 800 respondents, a response rate of 3.0%, and a margin of error of ±3.5% at a 95% confidence level.

They also plan to announce the results of surveys on the Sejongbo issue and the Light Festival in the near future.

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