{"id":2204470,"date":"2024-03-28T22:17:01","date_gmt":"2024-03-28T13:17:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2204470"},"modified":"2024-03-29T18:02:28","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T09:02:28","slug":"why-south-koreas-ruling-party-wants-to-relocate-parliament-outside-seoul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/03\/why-south-koreas-ruling-party-wants-to-relocate-parliament-outside-seoul\/","title":{"rendered":"Why South Korea\u2019s ruling party wants to relocate parliament outside Seoul"},"content":{"rendered":"
Han Dong-hoon, the interim leader of the ruling People Power Party, <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> plans on Wednesday to relocate the National Assembly to Sejong City, just two weeks before the parliamentary elections.<\/span><\/p>\n While Han presented his proposal as a means to promote balanced national development and eradicate \u201cYeouido\u2019s political culture,\u201d the move, if implemented, also carries significant risks, such as potential legal challenges, logistical difficulties and concerns about the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.<\/span><\/p>\n Moving South Korea\u2019s parliament is not a new idea. Kim Dae-jung <\/span>suggested<\/span><\/a> a \u201cDaejeon Administrative Second Capital\u201d in 1971, Park Chung-hee <\/span>initiated plans<\/span><\/a> for a temporary administrative capital in 1977, and Roh Moo-hyun significantly advanced the idea of an administrative capital in <\/span>Sejong City<\/span><\/a> in 2003.<\/span><\/p>\n Roh even sought to make Sejong City, about 90 minutes south of Seoul, the new national capital. But he was stimied by legal and political pushback, and the Constitutional Court ultimately deemed the move unconstitutional in 2004. Han Dong-hoon\u2019s proposal to move the National Assembly is the latest chapter in the \u201cmove-out-of-Seoul\u201d campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n HAN DONG-HOON\u2019S ADVOCACY<\/b><\/p>\n The timing of the proposal, just two weeks ahead of the general elections on April 10, has led to speculation about the political motivations behind the move and its potential impact on voter sentiment.<\/span><\/p>\n President Yoon Suk-yeol supported the relocation plan, with a presidential spokesperson <\/span>stating<\/span><\/a> that Yoon had pledged to open a National Assembly Sejong Building during his campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n The spokesperson further emphasized Yoon\u2019s belief that \u201cparliamentary democracy can be realized and administrative efficiency can be achieved when the legislature and administrative departments are in close proximity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Yoon\u2019s overt support for Han\u2019s pledge also raises suspicions that it may be an election ploy to rally support from voters in the area who might benefit most from the policy \u2014 particularly in and around Sejong City in the Chungcheong region.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n