South Korea moves main ministries out of Seoul

The relocation of central administrative bodies to Sejong is a key state strategy aimed at breaking the system centered around the capital area and making effective use of our land, said Interior Minister Jun Ho Jung.

Sejong - a special autonomous city

Sejong, located about 110 km south of Seoul, was established in 2007 as a special autonomous city to serve as the de facto administrative capital and relieve the overpopulated capital region.

The process of relocation of state bodies has been ongoing since 2012, when the prime minister's office was the first to move there. Since then, 44 government organizations have changed their headquarters.

Plan for the second phase of the move

The second phase of relocation plan announced on Tuesday will take place in two stages. From next year, 27 institutions will move to rented buildings in Sejong. These will include, among others: Financial Services Commission and media and data protection regulators.

By 2031, headquarters for 17 strategic institutions and ministries will be built, including law enforcement agencies, the prosecutor's office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the ministries of defense and unification.

In addition, the presidential office in Sejong is planned to be commissioned in 2029 and the new seat of the National Assembly (parliament) in 2033.

Not everyone will end up in Sejong

However, the transfers will not cover all public institutions, and individual ministries will go to other regions. An example is the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, which is located in the port city of Busan. In turn, institutions providing direct services to residents, such as museums, libraries and the Police Hospital, will remain in the Seoul metropolitan area.