By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
The administration will seek to create legislation on measures aimed at transforming Sejong City in South Chungcheong Province into a science-business complex immediately after announcing its master plan Monday, officials said Sunday.
The blueprint, which will be unveiled in a nationally-televised statement at 10:00 a.m. by Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, will focus on developing the site into a global industrial city in close partnership with conglomerates, universities and foreign technology firms.
Chung is expected to unveil the names of private investors, how much they will invest and what incentives the government will provide to the participating firms.
"The government will start meeting National Assembly leaders this week to pass a bill on the revision," said an official from the prime minister's office.
"One of the biggest obstacles for quick legislation is a growing rift between rival factions of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) over the revision. We will focus on addressing the division."
The bill is expected to be put to a vote at a National Assembly session in February or April, if things go smoothly, the official said. However he didn't rule out the possibility that the situation could worsen unless the GNP factions reach a compromise.
Opposition parties made it clear they will oppose the plan. Their protests will likely grow more vocal up to the June 2 local elections, considered a confidence vote on President Lee Myung-bak.
The GNP holds 169 seats in the 299-member legislature. If the rival factions unite together, the governing party will secure a majority of votes to pass the bill.
However, former GNP Chairwoman Rep. Park Geun-hye, leader of the second largest faction, has opposed the revision, dimming the prospect of an early passage.
It will also be a tough job to persuade other cities that are worried the Sejong development plan will "siphon off" corporate investment initially planned for their regional projects.