Union Protests KMCC Relocation to Sejong: "Reconsider Relocation Timeline"

The Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) branch of the National Government Employees' Union has voiced strong opposition to the agency's planned relocation to Sejong, calling for a reconsideration of the relocation timeline.

In a statement issued on November 2, the KMCC branch of the National Government Employees' Union criticized the move, saying, "Those affected only learned about the Sejong relocation through media reports on the day of the announcement, and there was not a single prior consultation with the labor union." It denounced the plan as a "hasty relocation unilaterally pushed forward without prior consultation with employees."

The union argued that issues such as the timing of the relocation, workplace transfers, support for housing and moving expenses, and measures addressing family separation are directly related to working conditions, insisting that the government must carry out consultation procedures in accordance with the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Public Officials' Trade Unions.

In particular, the union expressed concern that the foundations of employees' lives—such as housing, children's education, and spouses' employment—could be disrupted, pointing out that 126 employees, or 42% of the KMCC's total authorized quota of 301 staff, were either transferred or newly appointed within the past two years.

It added that among the 33 employees who were recently transferred to the KMCC at the Government Complex Gwacheon from the Ministry of Science and ICT at the Government Complex Sejong following an organizational restructuring, some now face having to move back to Sejong less than a year after relocating to the capital area.

The union demanded an apology and official consultations from the government, while urging a review of the relocation schedule slated for the first half of next year, separate measures for recently transferred and newly appointed staff, and concrete support measures including housing, moving costs, and children's education.

Earlier on October 13, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced a plan to relocate 44 central administrative agencies and 9,929 public officials from the Seoul metropolitan area to Sejong.

The KMCC, which has an authorized quota of 301 staff members, was included among the agencies scheduled to relocate in the first half of next year.

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