Han Dong-hoon, the People Power Party presidential primary candidate, said on the 22nd, "I will create five Seouls across the nation," unveiling his pledge for the creation of 'five major metropolises'. He emphasized that while discussions in the political sector on 'metropolitan area development' have focused on significantly transferring authority to local governments for autonomous development, he intends to strongly promote this at the central government level for realization. He noted that the five major metropolises will be designated considering the future strategic direction once the administration is established.
On that day in the morning, Han held a press conference at the National Assembly and stated, "I will tackle the problem of concentration in the metropolitan area not through simple dispersion but through strategic concentration," revealing the second version of his policy vision.
Han indicated, "I have already promised to shorten the term for constitutional amendment. I will include ways to balance and beautifully utilize our territory in the constitutional amendment. This involves creating five Seouls across the nation," introducing the 'five major metropolises' strategy. The plan is to focus on developing the five key industrial sectors of national strategy—AI, bio, energy, future cars, and semiconductors—each within their respective metropolises, enhancing industry while activating young talent and private capital to develop metropolitan regions.
Han stated, "We will create jobs by developing advanced industries, establish a conducive environment for startups through research clusters, and provide smart infrastructure and excellent educational environments to create cities where young people want to live."
To achieve this, he identified four key policies: ▲ proper industrial attraction ▲ creation of residential environments ▲ cultivation of advanced talent ▲ comprehensive development of national infrastructure over a two-year plan.
For the industrial attraction policy aimed at establishing advanced industrial clusters, he proposed 'regulation-free special zones' and 'tax-free funds'. The plan is to create special zones corresponding to each of the five key national strategic industrial sectors—AI, bio, energy, future cars, and semiconductors—completely abolishing relevant regulations to induce long-term investment and research and development. He also outlined a funding plan to promote the influx of private capital through tax-free funds invested in the development of regulation-free special zones by offering tax benefits such as immediate deferral of capital gains tax upon investing sales proceeds from metropolitan area real estate and reductions or exemptions based on the duration of investment.
Citing examples of successful cases like the Boston biotech cluster in the U.S., Han stressed, "If we fully lift the regulations currently obstructing the AI and medical convergence fields within certain special zones, the concentration of industries will naturally rise. Furthermore, if we eliminate regulations related to the pharmaceutical industry in specific regions, it will enable pharmaceutical companies and associated financial capital to flow in, allowing us to leap to a complete industrial cluster."
He also stated that he would create a residential environment to stabilize the settlement of young scientific and technological talents and experts, enabling them to research and live concurrently. Plans include developing housing and living infrastructure, increasing the number of dormitory-type science high schools, gifted schools, and international schools, while actively introducing advanced technologies such as autonomous shuttles and digital healthcare to establish an urban environment that guarantees quality of life.
He emphasized that the cultivation of advanced talent is also a key policy for the creation of the five major metropolises. To this end, he plans to create cluster-type metropolises similar to the biotech hubs in Boston and London's MedCity and raise necessary talent locally through the strategic transfer of national research institutes and expanding the pre-employment and post-education system for graduates from specialized high schools and Meister schools.
Additionally, he announced the establishment of a comprehensive national infrastructure development two-year plan, developing essential infrastructures such as roads, railways, and dams, while efficiently linking them to power grids, communication networks, gas pipelines, and water supply systems.
Han emphasized the strong leadership of the central government for the creation of the 'megapolis.' He asserted that it is only possible with national-level judgment and leadership, as well as policy decisions from the central government. He mentioned, "Up until now, attempts at administrative district reorganization or consolidation have been made at the local level, but (doing so) would yield little meaningful results apart from expanding administrative boundaries, as the key regulations and support tools reside at the central government level." He added, "It is difficult for local governments to make strategic decisions to intensively foster industries and boldly lift regulations for specific regions. However, the central government cannot unconditionally delegate those powers to the local level," stating that the five major metropolises that can directly compete with Seoul must receive concentrated support from the central government.
The five major metropolises will be selected from the planning stage by considering the efficient utilization of territory and the direction of regional development. Han noted, "Deciding where the five major metropolises will be is not an immediate issue. Our preparatory phase is to determine where to provide concentrated support to develop the metropolises, and that is the beginning of this work." He remarked, "Though one might think to say something for the election, I will refrain from doing so. It is too important." He expressed that he would identify the needs of each locality in various industrial fields and decide after mutual consultations with the central government.
Addressing the question of whether the plan to create the five major metropolises is feasible, given his promise of 'three years in presidential term,' Han said, "This is not a long-term issue. Politics is an art of setting priorities." He noted that the president will discuss it weekly, stating that if it is not achieved within two years, it would not be possible even in 20 years. He also commented on whether the deregulation would be possible within the National Assembly environment, which is dominated by the Democratic Party of Korea when in power, saying, "(The megapolis) will be created even in areas where the Democratic Party has a strong presence. It will proceed through nationwide considerations, making it difficult for the Democratic Party to oppose." He further stated, "Deregulation is not limited to just legislation. If I become president, I will have enough momentum to push this forward. I will seek much persuasion from the people."
Ahn Sang-hoon, a member of the National Assembly and policy committee chair for Han's campaign, explained, "Until now, we have centered on administrative integration or physical combinations. However, for industries to actually come in, this alone is insufficient. We will prepare to ensure that various legislation and regulations are revised to enable a proper incentive system through deregulation." He described it as a new vision for the national comprehensive development plan that has not yet been attempted.