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World

Provinces, You Can't Even Move There to Live [Except Seoul]

Translated from Korean Read in Korean

hani.co.kr ·

A recent debate has arisen surrounding the government's plan to relocate public agencies to rural areas. Many see the phrase "prefer rural over relocation" as an expression of frustration among employees who lack basic living and cultural facilities in rural areas. This opposition led the government to delay the announcement until October, instead of the originally planned September.

The primary objective of agency relocation is to alleviate overcrowding in the capital and promote national balanced development. While the government supports increasing job opportunities and industrial ecosystems in rural areas, they question the effectiveness and efficiency of this approach due to the potential hardships faced by employees, such as childcare, education, and spouses' job struggles. Some even argue that regional consolidation may exacerbate the concentration of development in the capital.

There are differing opinions within regions as well. Proponents of relocation in certain local governments are actively pursuing various strategies, including dedicated organizations, political cooperation, and financial support, to attract talent. However, there are concerns that Gyeonggi-do might be overlooked, especially after the introduction of comprehensive incentives by Gangwon-do. Inside Gyeonggi-do, the approach to relocation varies between innovation hubs like Wonju and newer cities like Chuncheon and Gangneung.

While some smaller local governments view this as merely a social gathering or an opportunity to observe others, those who have lived in Seoul for two decades or more and are returning to their hometowns generally support agency relocation, even if they wouldn't choose to move themselves. However, the concern that relocation could weaken national competitiveness, given that 1st round agency transfers were not as effective as expected, remains valid.

Nonetheless, the expectation of regional revitalization through this process is difficult to dismiss. Locals in areas without comfortable living conditions often express frustration and even resentment towards those who "prefer" the capital.

Written by urgent.news from Hankyoreh's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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