Governors Hit GNP for Deregulation in Seoul
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
The governing Grand National Party (GNP) Monday invited provincial governors to discuss supplementary measures for the central government's plan to ease regulations in Seoul and its surrounding areas.
However, the meeting drew criticism as it was said to be aimed at just appeasing angry leaders in areas excluded from the deregulation plan.
Gov. Kim Jin-sun of Gangwon Province stressed that the government has to first help strengthen the competitiveness of the provinces.
``The scheme is to distribute profits gained by development in and around Seoul to provincial regions, which means the government does not see those areas as players in the economy,'' he said.
The administration should encourage companies to move their headquarters and plants to provincial areas and drive development projects there, he added.
Gov. Lee Wan-koo of South Chungcheong Province also slammed the scheme, saying, ``The deregulation may help build or expand factories but it will increase land prices and cause national competitiveness to eventually drop.''
The Citizens Coalition for Economic Justice, one of the largest civic groups here, said it will stage a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul today against the government plan which would only cause unbalanced national development.
The government presented the deregulation plan Oct. 30 which allows big businesses to construct or expand factories in and around the capital starting next March.
The scheme aims at attracting more investors and creating more jobs in a bid to stimulate the sluggish economy, officials said.
Lawmakers from the opposition parties attacked the plan, claiming it would cause national division and make the provinces lag far behind the metropolitan area.
``Three opposition parties as well as civic groups plan to stage a protest. If the GNP proceeds with the deregulation, we will submit a petition to the Constitutional Court,'' said Rep. Park Joo-sun of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP).
The DP may withdraw its promise for bipartisan cooperation to revive the economy if the ruling camp implements the deregulation plan, he added.