The government plans to relocate 44 central administrative agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, and Ministry of Justice, from the Seoul metropolitan area to Sejong City starting next year. This large-scale initiative will involve approximately 10,000 civil servants and is set to be completed by 2031.
Yoon Ho-jung, Minister of the Interior and Safety, announced the details of the "Second Relocation of Central Administrative Agencies" during a briefing at the Government Seoul Complex on October 13. A total of 44 agencies, with a civil servant count of 9,929, will be affected by this move.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety reviewed 142 administrative agencies in the metropolitan area and decided that all central ministries would relocate to Sejong to enhance the efficiency of government operations, while excluding agencies that provide direct public services.
Twenty-seven agencies (2,995 staff) that can operate without separate office buildings will begin relocating to private buildings in Sejong next year. In the first half of the year, six agencies, including the Personal Information Protection Commission and the National Human Rights Commission, will move. In the second half, 19 agencies, including the Financial Services Commission, will follow.
The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family are also included in next year's relocation plan. However, these ministries will determine their specific relocation timelines based on legislative procedures required for related law amendments.
Seventeen agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Unification, Ministry of National Defense, and various law enforcement bodies, will construct dedicated office buildings and relocate by 2031. These agencies require independent facilities due to the nature of their work, which includes investigations and security, making it difficult to use rented buildings.
However, agencies related to the President, such as the Presidential Office and the National Security Council, are excluded from this relocation and will be reviewed separately. The decision on their relocation will consider the planned completion of the President's office in Sejong in 2029 and the relocation schedule in 2030.
The relocation is expected to incur significant costs. The government estimates that approximately 89.7 billion won will be needed next year for securing and operating rented office space and supporting civil servant relocations. The construction of independent office buildings is projected to cost around 3.1 trillion won, with about 28.6 billion won allocated for preliminary design costs next year.
The government anticipates that concentrating central ministries in Sejong will enhance inter-agency collaboration and promote balanced national development. However, the foreign affairs and security ministries face challenges in maintaining cooperation with foreign embassies in Seoul and responding to urgent issues, necessitating separate measures.
Concerns have also been raised about a potential decline in the financial market's responsiveness. The Financial Services Commission, which regularly consults with financial supervisory agencies and institutions, may face challenges in making quick decisions and responding to market conditions due to physical distance.
The relocation may also pose challenges for civil servants regarding housing and family issues. As they will need to reorganize their living arrangements, including their spouses' jobs and children's education, some have expressed that the planned timeline for relocation in the first half of next year is too soon. This could lead to increased relocation burdens and potential staff departures.
In response, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to provide relocation expenses and initial support for moving to affected civil servants and their families. For those unable to relocate immediately due to housing or children's education, temporary transportation support will also be considered. The government is committed to ensuring that financial policy implementation and market responses remain unaffected after the Financial Services Commission's relocation.
Kim Ha-kyun, head of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Office Management Division, stated during the briefing, "The Financial Services Commission's financial policies require close coordination with the financial market and related agencies, as well as policy discussions among relevant ministries. We believe it is not necessary for them to remain in Seoul to strengthen financial policies."
He added, "To maintain and enhance financial market responsiveness, we will develop separate plans during the detailed relocation planning process, and we expect the government will announce additional measures to realize the vision of Seoul as the economic capital."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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