Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Protest intensifies in Sejong against oceans ministry relocation plan
Members of the Korean Government Employees' Union's oceans ministry branch hold a protest near a government office in Seoul, arguing against a government plan to relocate the ministry from Sejong to Busan, Monday. Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
Chungcheong provincial governors, mayors united in opposition, urging president to reconsider decision
Opposition is mounting in Sejong and the wider Chungcheong region against President Lee Jae Myung’s proposal to relocate the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan, with Sejong Mayor Choi Min-ho urging the president to reconsider, citing concerns over both the plan’s practicality and its fairness.
Conservative mayors and governors in the Chungcheong provinces have presented a unified front, criticizing the liberal administration’s acceleration of the relocation process, which has highlighted tensions between central and regional interests.
At a press conference in Sejong on Monday, the mayor argued that the relocation “contradicts the principle of administrative efficiency” and harms the local economy.
He stressed the importance of keeping the ministry in Sejong for effective coordination on complex issues such as the development of Arctic shipping routes, which require cooperation among multiple ministries, including those responsible for oceans, foreign affairs, environment and trade. Choi emphasized that the president’s proximity to these ministries is essential for timely and decisive action, making Sejong the more efficient location for the ministry.
Sejong Mayor Choi Min-ho holds a poster near the government complex in Sejong, protesting against the government plan to relocate the oceans ministry from Sejong to Busan, July 2. Newsis
Choi also pointed to the Lee administration’s unfulfilled promise to complete Sejong as the administrative capital, a campaign pledge that garnered support from Chungcheong voters. He questioned whether the economic impact on Sejong and the Chungcheong region was being overlooked in favor of boosting Busan’s economy.
“If the purpose of relocating the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries from Sejong to Busan is to revitalize Busan’s economy, I strongly question whether it means the economic impact on Sejong and the Chungcheong region can simply be disregarded,” he added. “I am concerned about how the central government would respond if, following the precedent of the Busan relocation, other regions will begin to demand the transfer of state ministries to boost their own economies.”
His direct challenge to the relocation plan comes three days after the president’s town hall meeting held in Daejeon, where he emphasized the need for balanced national development.
There, the president defended the relocation as a move that made greater sense from a national perspective — both symbolically and functionally.
“Since we live together in this society, we cannot only pursue our own interests or insist on having things our own way,” Lee said.
He also acknowledged the challenges of designating Sejong as the official administrative capital, noting that a constitutional amendment would be required.
President Lee Jae Myung listens to a question from a man attending a town hall meeting held in Daejeon, July 4. Joint Press Corps
As a short-term measure, Lee suggested building a second presidential office and another National Assembly building in Sejong.
Despite these assurances, many residents and political leaders in the Chungcheong region remain dissatisfied. In a joint statement, the mayors of Sejong and Daejeon, along with the governors of North and South Chungcheong Provinces, accused the administration of prioritizing the relocation while neglecting the completion of Sejong as the administrative capital. Citing a poll in which 86 percent of oceans ministry officials opposed the move, they urged the president to conduct a thorough review and public discussions before finalizing the plan.
Some political analysts suggest the relocation is part of the administration’s strategy to gain support in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province ― traditionally conservative strongholds ― ahead of next year’s local elections, scheduled to be held on June 3. But it remains uncertain whether potential gains in these regions will offset possible losses in Sejong and the central provinces.
Political debates over the relocation of the oceans ministry to Busan date back many years. The idea was first proposed by Ahn Sang-young, former Busan mayor, during a 2001 media interview in which he introduced the concept of Busan as the “marine capital city,” and this was later embraced by mainstream politicians such as former Prime Minister Lee Hoi-chang and former President Park Geun-hye.
Meanwhile, the response in Busan has been positive. The Busan Metropolitan Government has announced the creation of a dedicated team to support the relocation.
This team will manage practical aspects such as securing office space, assisting with staff relocation and improving living conditions for employees moving to the port city. Additional responsibilities include identifying suitable sites, providing temporary office facilities during construction and arranging special housing for transferred staff.
“We will establish a support team for the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and actively assist in moving it to Busan as soon as possible, ensuring that it settles into the local community,” Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon said. “The relocation of the ministry will not merely be the physical transfer of a single government department, but will serve as the starting point for balanced regional development.”
According to a poll released earlier this month by the Busan Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice — a regional branch of a prominent civic group — a majority of 81 surveyed experts, including academics and activists, identified the ministry’s relocation as the most critical and promising of Lee’s campaign pledges for the region.