(EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Nov. 30)

Apology not the end

President Lee Myung-bak apologized for his past statements on the Sejong City,
which he said gave the impression that he supported the plan to build an
administrative city in South Chungcheong Province. Although Lee's apology comes
rather late, it is better than never.

In a nationally televised town hall meeting on Friday, Lee voiced his opposition
to the Sejong City project involving the transfer of 13 government ministries and
agencies to the administrative city, about 160 kilometers south of Seoul. The
special bill on the construction of Sejong City was passed in 2005.
"I am somewhat ashamed, and I regret it when I think of it now," said Lee in
reference to his election pledge as a presidential candidate in 2007 to uphold
the Sejong City plan. Apparently, Lee was never sold on the idea of an
administrative city but nevertheless promised to carry the plan through because
he needed the votes. "I am sorry to the nation and the people of Chungcheong
Province for causing such confusion, even though revising the plan will benefit
them," Lee said.
The Lee administration has been seeking to downsize the Sejong City plan. Citing
inefficiency, the administration wants to abandon the government agencies'
relocation. Instead, it proposes to build a self-sufficient city by attracting
businesses, schools and research institutes to move to the new city.
Understandably, the move to revise the Sejong City plan is being met with
vehement resistance by the people of Chungcheong Province, opposition parties and
the pro-Park Geun-hye faction within the ruling Grand National Party.
On Saturday, angry protesters threw eggs at the chartered bus carrying Prime
Minister Chung Un-chan and the special committee charged with reviewing the
Sejong City plan as it arrived at Sejong City. Former GNP Chairwoman Park
Geun-hye reaffirmed her position that the relocation of the government agencies
must proceed and that other elements be added to the existing plan, if necessary,
to ensure self-sufficiency of the city. Park, whose support is needed to pass any
bill revising the Sejong City project, had insisted that the president apologize
to the people.
Having apologized, Lee wants to steam ahead with a revision. Today, Lee meets
with the GNP leadership to discuss the matter. Lee should also meet with the
opposition leaders and have a hear-to-heart. Lee has apologized but the bigger
tasks of persuading the people why the original plan should be revised and
presenting a new plan still remain.
The Sejong City project was conceived as a way to pursue balanced regional
development. The premise behind the project was that when government ministries
and agencies relocate, businesses would follow. While the government has yet to
present a final proposal on the revision - it said an announcement will be made
on Dec. 14 - the ideas for the city being floated so far involve attracting
businesses, schools, universities and research institutes.
However, most of these moves are already part of the original plan. This is why
those opposed to revising the Sejong City plan say that the revision means a
downsizing of the first plan.
The government insists that it is not downsizing or abandoning Sejong City. On
Saturday, the prime minister suggested that the new city could be a center of
green growth. However, it is only after the administration unveils a final
revision proposal that a real debate on the future of Sejong City can take place.
(END)