“We need to foster a base for balanced growth by relocating secondary public institutions to Jeju” (comprehensive)

Experts suggested that Jeju should be fostered as a new base for balanced growth by linking the government's second relocation of public institutions to the local region by fostering Jeju's future industries, creating jobs, and revitalizing the local economy.

At the '2026 Autonomy Decentralization and Balanced Development Policy Forum' co-hosted by Jeju Island, the Korean Society of Local Autonomy, and the Korea Legislative Research Institute at the Kensington Hotel in Seoul on the 6th, various policy tasks for relocating public institutions to Jeju, regional-led growth, and expanding special autonomy rights were presented.

Jeju Governor Wi Sung-gon said in his opening speech, "The relocation of the second public institution to Jeju should be an opportunity for local industry and talent to grow together," and said that he is focusing his efforts on attracting organizations such as the Korea Racing Authority, Korea Airports Corporation, and Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning to Jeju.

Governor Above emphasized that he would expand new jobs and opportunities for youth by connecting local industries such as Jeju's horse industry, future air transportation, and renewable energy with the expertise of public institutions.

He also said, “The power of special autonomy must be used to resolve the inconveniences of the citizens of the province,” and said that he would revitalize powers that were not properly utilized and supplement the powers and systems needed in the field.

Experts who attended the forum on this day also presented various ways to connect public institution relocation to fostering local industries and creating jobs.

In a keynote lecture on 'The direction and tasks of relocating public institutions for regional-led growth in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province,' Director Yook Dong-il of the Korea Research Institute of Local Administration emphasized that the secondary relocation of public institutions should be promoted as a new model for balanced national development that takes advantage of Jeju's special characteristics and future growth potential.

Director Yuk evaluated that although the first relocation of public institutions resulted in the creation of a public administration base in Jeju Innovation City, Seogwipo-si and increased recruitment of local talent, there were limitations in leading to the growth of local companies and the creation of quality jobs.

The local talent recruitment rate of Jeju Innovation City's relocation institutions increased from 15.1% in 2016 to 29.4% in 2021, but was the lowest among the 10 innovation cities nationwide as of 2021.

Accordingly, it was proposed that the second relocation should not stop at simply moving public institutions to Jeju, but should transition to qualitative development that combines local industry, talent training, research and development, and residential environment.

In particular, he emphasized the need to substantially relocate not only the headquarters of public institutions, but also key personnel, budgets, business authority, and research and development functions, and create an industrial ecosystem that cooperates with local companies, universities, and research institutes.

In addition, it was proposed that Seogwipo Innovation City should be used as a basic base, but that the effect of relocating public institutions should be spread throughout the region by linking it with specialized industry bases throughout Jeju.

Director Yuk stated that local universities, transfer institutions, and companies should expand joint research, field training, and employment-linked projects and improve housing, education, medical care, and transportation conditions to create an environment in which young people and transfer institution employees can settle in Jeju.

Next, Ahn Young-hoon, a research fellow at the Korea Institute of Local Administration, presented a strategy to attract public institutions linked to Jeju's three major growth engines, including energy, space, and bio, in his presentation on 'Second Public Institution Relocation to Jeju and Balanced Regional Development Strategy'.

Researcher Ahn analyzed the industrial linkage possibilities of six organizations that Jeju Island is seeking to attract, including the Korea Racing Authority, Korea Airports Corporation, Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning, Next-Generation Numerical Forecasting Model Development Project Group, Korea Marine Environment Corporation, and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

Researcher Ahn analyzed that by linking these institutions with Jeju's future industries, the foundation for growth in the energy/aerospace, industry/tourism/trade, and meteorology/marine sectors can be strengthened.

The Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning explained that it is directly connected to Jeju's energy industry, including renewable energy, green hydrogen, and distributed energy specialized areas, and that Korea Airports Corporation can contribute to the development of the aviation and space industry and urban air transportation (UAM) fields.

In addition, the Korea Racing Authority analyzed that it would be helpful in the horse industry and tourism, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency would be helpful in attracting Jeju companies' exports and overseas investment, and the Next-Generation Numerical Forecast Model Development Project Group and Korea Marine Environment Corporation would be helpful in fostering meteorological and climate technology and marine environment industries.

However, he pointed out that among the six institutions currently seeking to attract, there is a lack of research and certification institutions that directly deal with small satellites and the bio industry, and that there is a need to attract additional core functions such as related research centers and branches.

Researcher Ahn also explained that at the time of the first relocation, the family migration rate of the relocating institution in Jeju was 83.2%, the second highest in the country, but the resignation rate before and after the relocation increased from 2.87% to 6.08%.

Accordingly, he emphasized the need for settlement support measures that reflect the uniqueness of the island region, such as the supply of public rental housing, housing loan interest support, children's education, and spouse employment support, as well as airfare discounts.

In addition, in the process of selecting public institution relocation targets, it was proposed to establish additional standards that take into account the burden of transportation and logistics costs in island areas, and to consider revising the Jeju Special Act and expanding government financial support.

It was stated that the performance of relocating public institutions should be evaluated not only by the number of institutions or the number of people transferred, but also by investment in local companies, jobs for young people, family settlement rate, and contribution to the local economy.

Along with attracting public institutions, the need to improve laws and systems to lay the foundation for the growth of Jeju's future industries was also raised.

Baek Ok-seon, a professor at Pusan ​​National University Law School, emphasized the need to link national energy policy and Jeju regional plans and prepare a legal mechanism to support the expansion of renewable energy in his presentation on 'Legal tasks of Jeju energy transition for balanced national growth in the five-pole, three-special era.'

Professor Baek suggested that a procedure to review the Jeju local energy plan should be established when establishing or changing the national electricity supply and demand basic plan, and that the possibility of connecting to the power grid and the need for facility reinforcement should be discussed before wind power generation is permitted.

In addition, it was stated that the output control standards for renewable energy power generation facilities should be clarified and the notification and objection procedures for power generation companies should be strengthened.

Professor Baek emphasized that a legal mechanism is needed to connect planning, licensing, and power grid operation so that Jeju's energy conversion policy can actually operate while maintaining the unity of the national power system.

In the session on autonomy and decentralization, Jeon Seong-man, director of the Social Solidarity Economy Policy Center at the Korea Institute of Local Administration, pointed out the achievements and limitations of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province's transfer of authority and suggested a direction for improvement under the theme of 'Utilization of special autonomy authority and measures to realize real autonomy experienced by residents.'

Director Jeon pointed out that although thousands of national authorities have been handed over since the launch of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, there are limits to bringing about changes felt by the residents of the province through the transfer of authority centered on individual affairs alone.

Accordingly, it was proposed that financial support necessary for the transfer should be expanded along with a comprehensive transfer of national affairs, and that the performance of the use of special autonomy should be evaluated based on residents' perceptions, etc.

He also emphasized the need to strengthen resident participation through referendums, participatory budgeting, and social agreements to ensure that special autonomy rights lead to actual regional development and improvement in the lives of residents.

Jeju Island plans to reflect the policy suggestions of experts presented at the forum on this day in its public institution attraction strategy, system improvement, and industry-specific development plan.