Land Minister: 'Minimize Public Agency Retention in Seoul Metro Area for 2nd Relocation, Begin Pioneer Moves Next Year'

The government has decided to minimize the number of public agencies remaining in the Seoul metropolitan area during the second wave of public agency relocations to regional areas, and to centrally deploy functionally related organizations focusing on existing innovation cities.

Pioneer relocations will begin starting next year by utilizing methods such as leasing private buildings rather than waiting for new government complex construction.

Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yun-deok announced these five key implementation principles for the second regional relocation of public agencies during a press conference on the relocation of administrative and public agencies and public agency functional reforms held at the Government Complex-Seoul today (the 3rd).

Minister Kim stated first, "We will comprehensively reexamine the retention criteria applied during the first relocation," adding, "Unless an agency must remain by necessity, we will include it in the relocation targets as a principle."

The government also decided to cluster and deploy functionally related agencies together to maximize relocation effects.

While pushing for relocation centered on existing innovation cities, the plan is to deploy agencies taking into consideration the functional groups of existing innovation cities and the 5-megaregion and 3-special-self-governing-province growth engines.

Linkages between relocated agencies, regional industries, and universities will also be strengthened.

The vision is to create quality jobs through industry-university cooperation and have the relocated public agencies play an "anchor role" in leading regional growth and innovation.

Living conditions in innovation cities will also be improved.

The central and local governments plan to cooperate to improve living conditions such as transportation, education, medical care, and culture, fostering innovation cities as regional growth hubs.

To accelerate the relocation speed, unlike the first relocation which waited for the construction of new buildings, pioneer relocations will immediately commence starting next year by utilizing leased private buildings.

Support levels will also be significantly raised compared to the first relocation to provide robust support for agencies promptly relocating to distant regions, and housing support plans will be prepared for employees who must relocate their living foundations in a short period.

Minister Kim remarked, "Balanced national development is an urgent national survival strategy and a task of the times that can no longer be delayed," adding, "Starting with today's announcement, we will embark on full-scale public deliberation procedures targeting local governments and labor circles." He continued, "We will thoroughly listen to various opinions from the field and formulate and announce a reasonable relocation plan within this year that everyone can empathize with."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.