Row over relocation

Rep. Lee Hae-chan, leader of the governing Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has hinted at relocating the headquarters of public organizations from Seoul to provincial areas. The relocation, if pushed, is likely to end up as a big “nothing burger.”

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) has begun to pour out harsh criticism against what it sees as Lee’s winning move, driving the debate toward partisan wrangling. Media outlets based in Seoul, which have always adhered to the “capital-is-the-center-of-nation” theory, are also busy manipulating public opinion in their favor. Even the ruling DPK is bent on excluding critical financial institutions from the candidate list for relocation.

The LKP’s moves show the largest opposition party regards relocating public institutions’ headquarters to provincial areas as little more than a vote-getting scheme by the governing party. Floor leader Rep. Kim Sung-tae brushed aside the move as an “attempt to ravage Seoul’s economy.”

The DKP finally seems to have backed off, saying, “We have no intention to push ahead with relocating public organizations.” Even if the ruling party does not drop the idea altogether, it makes little sense if it excludes large state-run banks, such as the Korea Development Bank and the Industrial Bank of Korea, each of which hires more than 1,000 workers a year and have massive effects on employment and the regional economy, from the candidate list.

Provinces should also keep alert against the manipulation of public opinion by the establishment who claim the relocation will instigate regional selfishness while lowering the work efficiency of these organizations.

The Moon administration ought not to forget the program is the fulfillment of the state’s responsibility for reviving the provincial economy and ensuring balanced regional development.