[EXPLAINER] Lee's push to open Sejong presidential office by 2029

For more than two decades, the Korean government has tried, in fits and starts, to move its center of political power away from Seoul. The effort has produced a new administrative city and dozens of relocated government ministries, but the president has never had a real foothold with them down south. President Lee Jae Myung wants to change that and, on Tuesday, he gave his clearest signal yet…

koreatimes.co.kr ·1h ago

[EXPLAINER] Lee's push to open Sejong presidential office by 2029

For over two decades, the Korean government has attempted intermittently to shift its political heart away from Seoul. This endeavor has yielded a new administrative city and numerous government ministries relocated to other locations, yet the president has never established a significant presence in these southern territories. President Lee Jae Myung aims to alter this dynamic and, on Tuesday, provided his most explicit indication yet of his resolve to see this project completed before his tenure concludes.

During a Cabinet meeting held at Government Complex Sejong, Lee urged ministers to make a concerted effort to finalize the construction of a new presidential office in the city, expressing his desire to conduct the administration's final Cabinet meeting there. He emphasized the necessity for Sejong to evolve into a firmly established center of national governance, designed to foster balanced regional development.

The president's statements represented the most recent and tangible affirmation of his campaign promises.

Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.