Sejong Mayor Lee Chun-hee emphasizes "Stipulation of Administrative Capital through Revision"

Sejong Mayor Lee Chun-hee has vowed to "make the administrative capital clear through constitutional amendment" as a way to build the administrative capital in name and reality. Regarding the integration of administrative districts with Sejong and nearby metropolitan and basic organizations, the government also expressed its position that it is "unavoidable" at a premature time. It was in an interview with Chungcheng News, which took place at the mayor's office in Sejong City on Friday.

Mayor Lee's road map for the administrative capital through "Chungcheong News" is eye-catching in that it is an honest plan by an administrative expert. When Roh Moo-hyun, the former president took office, Lee was at the Multifunctional Administrative City Construction Agency, and the Ministry of Construction and Transportation chief. Since then, Mayor Lee Choon-hee is regarded as a "deficit in the administrative capital."

-The question and answer with Mayor Lee.

Q. Discussions on Sejong's administrative capital have been reignited. What is the ideal image of the administrative capital?

The recent rekindling of discussions on the construction of Sejong, the administrative capital, has revealed a sense of urgency to complete the administrative capital for decentralization and balanced national development as well as overpopulation in the Seoul metropolitan area. Ultimately, it is desirable to make Sejong the central city of administrative politics and Seoul the central city of economic culture. The relocation of Cheong Wa Dae, government ministries, and legislative and judicial ministries to Sejong should complete the Republic of Korea where the Seoul metropolitan area and provinces coexist."

Q. What is the best way to build Sejong, the administrative capital?

In the long run, I think it is best to stipulate 'the administrative capital Sejong' through a constitutional amendment. It can clear up the unconstitutionality. However, even before the constitutional amendment, the establishment of the National Assembly's Sejong Assembly and the relocation of non-transferable institutions should be preceded.

Q. Wondering about the idea of building an administrative capital, a specific road map, etc.

In the long run, it is most desirable to name Sejong the administrative capital through a constitutional amendment. However, the revision of the Constitution may be prolonged, so the tasks necessary for the revision of the law, such as the relocation of the Sejong Assembly building and the relocation of non-transferable and new central administrative agencies, should be continued. In particular, in the case of Sejong's Capitol, a related law revision has been proposed, and we expect tangible results as the government budget also reflects design costs."

Q. The integration of local governments and administrative districts near Sejong City has recently emerged as an issue. What is the mayor's position?

"Creating a single right of living is a separate matter. For cities to integrate, citizens of both cities must agree. To ask our citizens, Sejong City is still in the process of completing it, so it is not the time to talk about administrative integration. It's hard to agree on administrative integration at the moment, and instead, I'm actively in favor of win-win cooperation to create a single living zone, a metropolitan area."

Q. Do you think integration is ultimately right?

"It's a complicated problem. It is worth a try if the profits are large by consolidating into one. For now, however, no significant gains from the merger have been revealed. If you think about what would be good if Daejeon and Sejong merged, the good points will not be highlighted, but will only cause confusion. It's a problem to think about in 10 or 20 years. We don't have to decide what to do from now on."

Q. If there is a proposal for an integration discussion.

"We need to discuss it, but before the discussion table was set up, (the integration issue) came up. There's another thing to worry about. Discussions are now underway on the construction of the administrative capital. There is a task to concentrate on whatever it is. It is similar to asking to solve math problems in Korean class. Now is the time to focus on completing the National Assembly's Sejong Assembly and the administrative capital. This is not the time to disperse forces over administrative integration issues. It's not timely, at least now."

Q. Lastly, if there's anything you want to say to the citizens.

It is the people`s desire and calling for a nation where the whole nation is well-off by correcting the harmful effects of concentration in the metropolitan area. The role of citizens is very important in making Sejong City, a symbol of balanced national development, a dignified city that can be promoted internationally. Please join forces in completing Sejong City, a symbol of balanced national development and decentralization, as the administrative capital."