Overseas Koreans Agency at odds with Incheon over potential relocation to Seoul

Kim Kyung-hyup, head of the Overseas Koreans Agency, speaks during a policy briefing at Government Complex Seoul, Dec. 19, 2025. Yonhap

The Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA) is embroiled in a dispute with Incheon Metropolitan City after its chief raised the possibility of moving the agency's headquarters to Seoul, citing logistical hurdles in providing services from its current base in Incheon, located west of the capital.

Following fierce backlash from Incheon officials, the agency has stepped back from formally pursuing the relocation. Officials say, however, that they may bring it up again if Incheon fails to provide sufficient logistical and institutional support.

"For now, we have temporarily suspended the review of a relocation plan, but only on the condition that Incheon comes up with concrete improvement measures," an agency official told The Korea Times on Tuesday.

The official added that the agency has proposed conducting a joint survey of overseas Koreans with the Incheon city government, through a credible polling firm, to assess whether they are satisfied with the agency's current location.

"We understand that similar surveys had been carried out before Incheon was selected," the official said. "But now that the agency has actually been operating here for several years, we think it is important to reassess the overall situation."

OKA was launched in June 2023 in response to growing calls for a dedicated government body to support the estimated 7 million Koreans living abroad. Seoul, Incheon and Jeju Island were among the candidate sites to host the organization.

Incheon, home to the country's main international airport, was ultimately selected. The agency's headquarters, where 127 employees work, is currently housed in the privately owned Booyoung Tower in the Songdo area. An additional 24 staffers are based at a service support center near Gwanghwamun in central Seoul.

The relocation controversy stems from remarks made earlier this month by agency chief Kim Kyung-hyup in a media interview, in which he said the agency was considering moving its headquarters to the capital.

Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok attends a meeting with government officials at Government Complex Seoul, Dec. 2, 2025. Yonhap

Kim cited rising rental costs and the need for greater administrative efficiency, given the agency's frequent coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is located near Gwanghwamun.

The agency argued that the distance from the capital has created difficulties for overseas Koreans who travel to Korea to handle administrative matters such as apostille issuance and visa-related procedures.

Data cited by the agency points to a sharp contrast between visitor traffic at its two service facilities.

Officials estimate that about 500 people visit its Gwanghwamun center each day. In contrast, the service center at the Incheon headquarters has drawn far fewer visitors. Between September 2023 and November 2025, it recorded an average of about 42 visitors a month.

Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok immediately pushed back against the suggestion.

"Bringing the Overseas Koreans Agency to Incheon was a great victory achieved together with Incheon citizens, and a source of pride for the city," Yoo wrote in a Facebook post on Friday.

The mayor further argued that Kim's remarks amounted to a "political maneuver" against him ahead of the June 3 local elections. Yoo, a member of the main opposition People Power Party, is widely expected to run for reelection.

Agency officials rejected his claim that the issue was political, saying it was driven by practical reasons.

Incheon Metropolitan City declined to comment on the issue, saying the mayor's Facebook post reflected the city's position.