First Stage of Move to Sejong City Complete

Government office workers are starting to adapt to their new home in the city of Sejong.
It's been seven years since a special law was passed, allowing for the construction of the multifunctional administrative city in Sejong.
The plan includes moving most of the disbursed government offices in Seoul to Sejong in a total of three stages.
The first stage has been deemed a success.
The prime minister's office moved first, followed by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and others, which now conduct their normal working hours in Sejong.
Next year, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and five other central administrative agencies will make the move.
And, if everything goes as planned,by 2014 the move will be complete with total of 16 central administrative agencies and 20 extension agencies filled by over 14-thousand workers.

[Interview : ] "I want people to have pride in their work, to lead the nation in balancing regional development and improving the administrative culture".

But there is room for improvement in Sejong.
The biggest problem currently is the lack of housing and amenities.
Apartments that have already been purchased have passed their due date for construction and presently one-third of government workers who punch in at Sejong are commuting from the capital area.
Schools have already surpassed their capacity, and looking forward, the city needs general hospitals and major distribution facilities, while enhancing public transportation.

Kim Hyun-bin, Arirang News

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Reporter : hyunbin@arirang.co.kr