By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
The plan to relocate nine ministries and four government agencies out of Seoul under the banner of the Sejong City project may bring about several unexpected consequences the ramifications of which could be far-reaching to families as well as society overall, an expert said Friday.
Geum Chang-ho, senior research fellow at the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration (KRILA), said the drawbacks have prompted the government to push a self-sufficient city instead of an administrative one.
During a National Assembly committee meeting Thursday, Kwon Do-youp, vice minister of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, said the government had been studying ways to make Sejong City self-sufficient since last year.
``If the original plan is implemented, families would be separated during the week as their spouses live in Sejong City for work, while the rest of the family remain in Seoul or the suburbs for education and other reasons,'' Geum told The Korea Times.
Surveys found that clubs, bars and other nightlife facilities tend to sprawl in areas where separated family members live alone.
``This is the case of Dangjin County in South Chungcheong Province where a large steel company is based. A variety of nightlife facilities popped up in the small city after the steelmaker was set in place there,'' the expert said.
``We cannot rule out the possibility of such a side effect happening in Sejong City if the original plan is implemented.''
If the ministries and government agencies are relocated to Sejong City, which is under construction in an area between Yeongi County and Gongju City in South Chungcheong Province, approximately 10,000 government employees will need to either commute or move to the city for work.
The city is expected to accommodate a population of about 500,000.
The distance between downtown Seoul and the new city is about a four-hour return trip, meaning that government employees will have to make a choice between their families or moving to the city.
Experts say education will discourage the families from settling down in the new city as most good schools, education facilities and related programs and human resources are based in Seoul.
Inefficiency is another key reason why critics call for modifying the plan.
Under the proposal, the President will be in Seoul while the Prime Minister should stay in Sejong City, presiding over nine ministries and four government agencies that are to be relocated there.
Opponents said it will be difficult for the nation to come up with swift and timely responses when an emergency hits the nation, because it will take time for the President, the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers to meet.
Geum said that the problem could be fixed if Cabinet members held video meetings.
``But the primary concern is inefficiency. Separation of government functions in the two cities that take one hour and 40 minutes for a one-way trip when no traffic jams occur will inevitably increase time and money spent on public administration,'' he said.
Opposition parties, meanwhile, stood firm on the original relocation plan, urging the government to implement it as scheduled.
They said that the plan will help revitalize the local economy.