President outlines principles of Sejong City development
Published: 06 Jan. 2010, 20:58
President Lee Myung-bak expressed hope that revised plans for the Sejong City development project will prioritize attracting new businesses and consider the opinions of residents after receiving a draft report from Prime Minister Chung Un-chan yesterday.
“Be strictly prepared so that the public feels the government has done its best,” Lee was quoted as saying by Chung. The draft, part of which was disclosed by the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday, is set to be officially unveiled to the public next Monday after various sessions of public hearings and discussions over the interim period.
Following the announcement, the government plans to decide on the date to submit bills to revise the years-long project to the National Assembly after hearing what ordinary citizens think about the draft.
Chung said Lee, during the two-hour reporting session, proposed five principles regarding attracting private enterprises, universities and think tanks to the new city: avoid attracting businesses and industries that other regions are trying to attract; focus on new industries; induce businesses that will contribute to job creation; reflect local residents’ opinions; and set aside land for potential foreign investors.
“President Lee emphasized the importance of saving land for possible attraction of foreign investment,” Chung told reporters at a press conference marking his first 100 days in office.
A high-ranking government official said the near 70-page report to President Lee included the names of large companies in final stage of negotiations with the government over relocation to the South Chungcheong provincial city.
Samsung Electronics is one of the companies that is now considering moving into the biosimilar medicine industry. Observers say the electronics giant may build new research and manufacturing facilities in Sejong City.
Chung told reporters that there has been 90 percent progress in attracting enterprises and universities and that the government is in the middle of “adjusting details.”
Meanwhile, with the date of the government’s announcement of the revised blueprint for the development approaching, the main opposition Democratic and second-tier Liberty Forward parties have raised their voices against the move, insisting the “original” plan be followed.
Former President Roh Moo-hyun’s administration aimed to develop the city into an administrative capital with seven ministries and other government agencies.
DP leader Chung Sye-kyun said yesterday, “The revised plan for Sejong is rubbish .?.?. whose scale is less than one-tenth of the original layout. That’s because relocating government agencies was the essential part of the city but [the Lee Myung-bak administration] has taken out the essence and advocated other functions.”
By Seo Ji-eun [[email protected]]
“Be strictly prepared so that the public feels the government has done its best,” Lee was quoted as saying by Chung. The draft, part of which was disclosed by the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday, is set to be officially unveiled to the public next Monday after various sessions of public hearings and discussions over the interim period.
Following the announcement, the government plans to decide on the date to submit bills to revise the years-long project to the National Assembly after hearing what ordinary citizens think about the draft.
Chung said Lee, during the two-hour reporting session, proposed five principles regarding attracting private enterprises, universities and think tanks to the new city: avoid attracting businesses and industries that other regions are trying to attract; focus on new industries; induce businesses that will contribute to job creation; reflect local residents’ opinions; and set aside land for potential foreign investors.
“President Lee emphasized the importance of saving land for possible attraction of foreign investment,” Chung told reporters at a press conference marking his first 100 days in office.
A high-ranking government official said the near 70-page report to President Lee included the names of large companies in final stage of negotiations with the government over relocation to the South Chungcheong provincial city.
Samsung Electronics is one of the companies that is now considering moving into the biosimilar medicine industry. Observers say the electronics giant may build new research and manufacturing facilities in Sejong City.
Chung told reporters that there has been 90 percent progress in attracting enterprises and universities and that the government is in the middle of “adjusting details.”
Meanwhile, with the date of the government’s announcement of the revised blueprint for the development approaching, the main opposition Democratic and second-tier Liberty Forward parties have raised their voices against the move, insisting the “original” plan be followed.
Former President Roh Moo-hyun’s administration aimed to develop the city into an administrative capital with seven ministries and other government agencies.
DP leader Chung Sye-kyun said yesterday, “The revised plan for Sejong is rubbish .?.?. whose scale is less than one-tenth of the original layout. That’s because relocating government agencies was the essential part of the city but [the Lee Myung-bak administration] has taken out the essence and advocated other functions.”
By Seo Ji-eun [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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