Sejong Mayor Choi Min-ho requested the withdrawal of the transfer work of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan, which was activated under President Lee Jae-myung's directive.
On the 9th, Mayor Choi held a press conference in the city hall press room and noted, "The president's directive to transfer the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries when the conditions are not yet sufficiently ripe should be reconsidered," and he urged, "Please withdraw the directive for the prompt transfer of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and have sufficient discussions related to this in the future."
Mayor Choi said, "Presidential election commitments are usually implemented after sufficient consultation among ministries and thorough preparation, but directives issued just two days after the election without adequate follow-up review are difficult to accept," and he added, "The transfer of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries should be accompanied by comprehensive and multifaceted prior review and measures related to government agency dispersion, administrative efficiency, and public servants' housing issues."
He also emphasized, "The decision to transfer the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries should consider the potential conflict with the national goal of completing Sejong as the administrative capital, which the president has emphasized," and he added, "In a situation where the transfer of the National Assembly and the presidential office to Sejong City is being pursued for administrative efficiency and national balanced development, the transfer of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan is a decision that contradicts this trend and should be reviewed more cautiously."
Currently, the decision to transfer the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan is being made without sufficient review, and it has been pointed out that it could conflict with national goals of balanced development and completing the administrative capital.
Mayor Choi also claimed that a roadmap regarding President Lee's pledge of 'transferring the presidential office to Sejong' should be presented. He asked, "Is it possible to build the presidential office in Sejong City, and if so, when will it be realized? Please at least present a roadmap," and he requested, "At this time, please express a clear willingness regarding the establishment of a second presidential office."
Meanwhile, Mayor Choi requested that Democratic Party of Korea member Kang Jun-hyun, who represents the Sejong City constituency, also clarify his stance on the transfer of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.