Republic of Seoul
By Cho Jae-hyon
People Team Editor
A huge banner reading "Welcome Redevelopment!" is often hung in front of old housing units or apartment complexes, a sign that can be seen only in Korea.
We are the people who welcome the demolition of our own house ― the place fraught with priceless memories ― in anticipation of a higher market value after reconstruction.
Houses have long been a subject of investment rather than a place to live here. For most ordinary people, houses take up the largest portion, if not everything, of their wealth. They hail the destruction of their old flats for new town projects but loathe any steps they think will adversely affect their homes' prices.
The direction of housing prices is one of the most important factors determining how votes are cast in elections to select civil servants, the president and lawmakers to governors and mayors.
Politicians are well aware of this. Campaign pledges for new town projects or plans to boost home prices are a must. Of course, they should discard measures voters think would have adverse effects on the prices.
Many people are sighing now that the joy of the Vancouver Winter Olympics is gone. They know politicians' ugly clashes over Sejong City will make headlines again, replacing news about our young athletes' awesome performances.
It has been creating a fuss for months as President Lee Myung-bak scaled down the project from an administrative town to a business-research one.
Lee said he cannot keep his earlier promise to see the original plan through because he cannot betray his conscience.
To be faithful to this, he must overcome ever-growing resistance inside and outside the ruling Grand National Party.
A presidential spokesman has quoted him as saying that he will soon make a "grave decision." Most pundits bet the decision will be putting it to a referendum.
On Tuesday, however, the presidential house quoted Lee as saying that he "is not considering a referendum for now."
A public vote, obviously a tempting option to break this stalemate, may resurface. The large population in the Seoul area would prefer the modified version over the original one.
Lee is good at pushing through what he believes is right against all odds. Determined to put the modified Sejong plan into practice, he will come forward with new initiatives.
The original project has passed legal and layers of other required procedures. No plan has been scrutinized so thoroughly, including being reviewed by the Constitutional Court and going through many public hearings.
That's why President Lee initially agreed to the original idea to move major ministry headquarters to the southern area. But he is now saying that he cannot give the go-ahead to the plan.
What's so wrong with the original idea? Inefficiency stemming from government offices in a remote city? That might be less of a problem considering the current troubles associated with the concentration of all the resources in Seoul.
The original plan has at least a cause: decentralization.
About half of the nation's total population lives in and around Seoul and the portion is increasing. Companies, schools, hospitals and key government headquarters are continuing to sprout up here. This is causing phenomenal problems.
The original plan was designed to decentralize the area for a more balanced development of our land.
It has drawn unwelcome attention from those living in the Seoul area. For them, it negatively affects home prices. They are accustomed to the concentration of social and economic power in the capital.
They think it's something they cannot change even though it is causing lots of inconveniences. They are not much concerned about moves to ease this.
The Lee administration also has no will or long-term vision to resolve the imbalance. It is more interested in channeling money to the Four Major Rivers Project.
Ongoing juggling with Sejong City is nothing more than a political gambit. Once all the dust settles, what will be left will be political winners and losers.
For both politicians and those who live in the capital, Seoul is a power that they don't want to share. But if they don't, it will implode.