Posted on 08/11/2004 1:31:03 AM PDT by RWR8189
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South Korea has chosen a site in central South Chungchong province to house its new capital city.
"The Yeongi-Kongju area has been selected as the site for a new capital," Prime Minister Lee Hai-chan said in a live national broadcast.
Construction of the new capital, which has not yet been named, is due to begin in 2007 and be completed by 2030.
The $45bn move is designed to reduce Seoul's overcrowding and economic dominance over the rest of South Korea.
Government and administrative functions will be moved to the new city, and possibly parliament and the supreme court, although any sizable relocation is not expected to happen until 2012.
 President Roh made the relocation plan a key part of his manifesto
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The location of the new capital was chosen ahead of three other candidates, Eumseong/Jincheon in North Chungchong province, and Chonan and Kongju/Nonsan, both in South Chungchong province.
"The new capital site was found to be the best among the candidate locations in terms of potential contribution to the nation's balanced regional development, ease of access and living environment," Mr Lee was quoted as saying in the Korea Times.
Mr Lee said land purchases would begin next year on the 7,100 hectare (17,540 acre) site.
Political issue
President Roh Moo-hyun has made moving the capital one of the core objectives of his term in office, and it fulfils a campaign pledge he made before elections in 2002.
He insists the move is key to the decentralisation of the country, and more balanced regional development.
But opposition parties have called for a referendum, saying Mr Roh's plans go further than originally announced.
The Grand National Party said in a statement that the plan should be reconsidered, and was against the will of the public.
The relocation still faces legal obstacles, and civic groups have launched a constitutional appeal.
But Mr Lee said that suspending the move would go against democratic principles, since it had the backing of parliament.
Are there any indicators this move is motivated by military concerns?
That was my first thought.
But no matter where they move they move their capitol their is still a huge urban population in Seoul.
Yes, but not a large population of leaders. :)
Given the stench coming out of our own captial maybe we should move our's away from the inlfluence of the east coast and into Americans heartland....
They've been suggesting that for 150 years. If we moved it out there, we'd only have a foul stench coming from Kansas to replace DC's soon enough.
As for DC, it could be turned into a national park/historical site.
I am for Intercourse Pennsylvania as the new Capitol. If we are going to get screwed at least the name will be appropriate.
I hope by then that Yeongi-Kongju will be the capital of the whole peninsula.
I hope by then that Yeongi-Kongju will be the capital of the whole peninsula.
This will end up being a white elephant project for political gains. The government is pushing it against the opposition of majority population. This did not come out of security concern, as some might have speculated. They just want to corner votes of Choong-Chung province where this 'capital' is located. In the end, this project will die a death of thousand cuts.
So they're moving their capital by moving their capitol?
I thought online trading was supposed to make it easier than that.
When a politician runs out of good ideas to spend money, he can always try moving the capital.
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