By Na Jeong-ju
The deepening regional rivalry over lucrative state projects is casting dark clouds over the ruling camp’s efforts to create fresh momentum for President Lee Myung-bak’s policy agenda amid worries that his grip on state affairs could weaken.
The government announced Monday that it will set up key research functions for an international science-business belt in the Daedeok district in northern Daejeon, triggering furious reactions from other candidate cities.
The 3.5 trillion won project, along with another project to relocate the headquarters of the state-run Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH), has been drawing keen attention as regional governments engaged in fierce competition to win the deals.
Last week, the government chose Jinju in South Gyeongsang Province over Jeonju in North Jeolla Province as the site of the new LH office. It promised to relocate the National Pension Service to Jeonju in an apparent bid to appease angry residents there.
Residents in Daejeon and the surrounding Chungcheong region have hailed the decision to build the science belt in Daejeon, but other competing cities, including Daegu, Busan, Changwon and Gwangju, harshly criticized the government.
During the 2007 campaign, Lee, then-presidential candidate for the Grand National Party, pledged to set up the science complex in the Chungcheong region. However, Lee said in February that he would reconsider the plan, triggering a wave of protests from residents and politicians there.
Chungcheong residents are generally satisfied with the selection of Daejeon, but the decision could add fuel to bad public sentiment in the Gyeongsang provinces over the government’s recent abolishment of an airport construction project.
In early April, the government scrapped the plan to build an international airport in the Gyeongsang region after a government panel concluded that building and operating the airport was not economically feasible. The construction of the airport was also one of President Lee’s campaign pledges.
Analysts say the regional division over state projects and the weakening public support for the Lee administration bode ill for the conservative leader with his single five-year term to end in early 2013.
Lee’s public approval rating has plummeted to its lowest level since August 2009, apparently due to a series of policy failures and scandals involving his aides.
Later on Monday, Lee expressed hope Monday that the science belt project will promote the science-technology sector and lead the nation to a better future.
“I hope the science belt will contribute to the promotion of science and make Korea’s future brighter,” he said at a meeting with senior aides, according to presidential spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung.
Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, argued that the Lee administration is causing confusion among the public by changing the course of the projects for its own political interests.
“The government needs to push for state projects based on the firm principles of balanced regional growth and fair competition,” Sohn said Monday during a party meeting.
“However, the Lee administration has used regional rivalry over the projects to increase voter support for the ruling camp. It will face serious consequences.”