By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Chung Un-chan underlined Friday that businesses, schools and reseach institutions that already had plans to relocate to the provinces won't be admitted to Sejong City, a move aimed at calming concerns that the development would eat into other regions' growth.
``I want to make it clear that those who've shown interest in moving to certain provincial districts will not qualify to enter Sejong City,'' Chung told a group of business executives at a luncheon hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the nation's largest business lobbying group.
This is the prime minister's second meeting with business people in two weeks, following his recent one with members of the Federation of Korean Industries, a group of the nation's most powerful firms.
Leading the Lee Myung-bak government's plan to revise the original Sejong City blueprint into an industrial center, Chung has been increasing his interactions with business leaders to seek their support in overhauling the project promised under the late President Roh Moo-hyun.
A few companies are reportedly starting to react to the invitation, provoking frustration from other regions that have similar develomment projects in progress.
``Sejong City is open to companies, research centers and univerities but only from Seoul or from overseas, so other regions need not worry about any negative impact,'' Chung said, adding that the government is mulling over fresh incentives for prospective tenants.
``The current plan isn't attractive enough,'' he said.
On the timing of the exit strategy, the prime minister said the Korean government is not in a position to push ahead alone as governments around the world are cooperating to map out an ideal time.
``The South Korean economy is recovering at the fastest pace among the world's leading economies,'' said Chung, ``but too many uncertainties still loom large, making it tough to implement an exit strategy anytime soon.''