PM demands approval of revised Sejong project in first half

By Shim Sun-ah
SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Chung Un-chan on Thursday urged
parliament to swiftly approve a government plan to build a business and science
hub in central South Korea in place of an administrative city envisioned by the
previous administration.
Expressing regret about the protracted political wrangling over the revision of
the Sejong City project, Chung asked that the revised plan be approved by the end
of the first half at the latest.
The government is preparing to submit five revisions to the parliament late this
month or early next month to give legal guarantees to its plan to house large
corporations, universities and high-tech research centers at a new city in South
Chungcheong Province where key government offices were originally set to relocate
from Seoul. The future of the new plan, however, is unclear with all opposition
parties, Chungcheong residents and even a minor faction in the ruling party
opposing.
The plan "should get parliamentary approval by the end of the first half at the
latest, otherwise companies and universities that have shown intent to invest may
pull out of the project and many other problems are feared to arise," Chung said
in a meeting with reporters. "I will do my best to make it pass the National
Assembly in April."
He worried it might permanently remain "as an unsolved problem" if it fails to be
processed by the first half.
Last month, the prime minister announced that the government will make the
envisioned city named after the inventor of the Korean alphabet, King Sejong, "a
top-class self-sufficient city that will lead the country's future" and house
large corporations, universities and research centers by 2020.
Four South Korean conglomerates have tentatively agreed to invest 4.38 trillion
won (US$3.87 billion) to build manufacturing and research facilities in the city.
Chung, however, denied local media reports that he may resign if the revisions
fail to get a parliamentary consent.
"I have been working with determination and will continue to do so," he said.
"But my future wouldn't be decided by whether the revisions pass the parliament
or not," he added.
The premier pledged steady efforts to persuade politicians opposing the new plan.
"I will try to directly meet the parliamentary leaders and heads of ruling and
opposition parties for discussions around the time when the revisions are
submitted to the National Assembly," he said.
sshim@yna.co.kr
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