Inauguration Ceremony Held at Sejong Office

On July 10, Kim Kyung-soo, the chairperson of the Presidential Committee on Local Era, announced plans to expedite the construction of the Sejong National Assembly and the Presidential Office. He emphasized the need to also reform legal systems to facilitate the relocation and completion of the administrative capital. During his inauguration ceremony at the Local Era Committee's office in Sejong City, Kim stated, 'The key task assigned to the Local Era Committee is the completion of Sejong as the administrative capital.' He acknowledged the challenges of establishing a new vision and strategy for the metropolitan area while pushing forward with the administrative capital's relocation. Kim expressed concern over the increasing concentration and overcrowding in the metropolitan area, stating, 'For over 20 years, efforts have been made, but the situation is worsening, and non-metropolitan areas are facing extinction. It is time to reassess South Korea's growth strategy and seek a fundamental transformation.' He proposed that 'balanced national growth' should become the new national strategy of the Lee Jae-myung administration, revitalizing the country's growth engine. This strategy, termed '5 Extremes and 3 Special Self-Governing Regions,' aims to create new economic and living zones based on five mega-regions and three special autonomous regions. Kim committed to closely collaborating with the National Planning Committee to define the strategic direction and develop detailed plans for implementation alongside central and local governments. Regarding decentralization, he stated that while expanding local government autonomy, accountability must also increase. He pointed out that the main obstacle to decentralization has been the central government's lack of trust in local governments, urging for improvements in the system to build that trust. Kim concluded by stating that the tasks of balanced national growth and expanded decentralization are crucial for the future and destiny of South Korea, calling for collective efforts to create a new future for the nation.