Some 176 of the 346 public agencies and corporations in the greater capital region are going to be moved to the provinces. The fact that it is only now that the decision has been made when it was supposed to be finalized in March speaks of how difficult it was to arrive at a conclusion. The problem of over-concentration in the capital region is not going to resolve itself by itself. If neglected, the imbalance between the capital and the provinces is only going to grow worse. Just ten years ago there were big important companies in each region but those, too, have disappeared one by one. As long as the provinces are part of the country, they have to develop along with the rest and be places worth living in. The plan to relocate state agencies and organizations to achieve regionally balanced development appears to be a desperate decision to find momentum for development when there is none elsewhere.
The selection of a relocation plan is just the start. Local governments in the capital region and some regional governments that are not getting the agencies they wanted are upset. There will be resistance from employees at the offices being moved, and with the Grand National Party (GNP) saying the plan was hastily done there will be considerable offensives from the opposition. Public opinion is not favorable either, as many are calling it "dividing up the spoils." The government needs to do everything it can to persuade the public and it should accept the criticism that is valid, then about everything else it needs to push forward with strong political will. It also needs ingenious plans for lessening the resistance and preventing negative side effects. Minimizing the complaints of employees about housing and education will be basic. Most importantly it needs to prevent the areas where agencies are going to be relocated from being overcome with speculative real estate investment. There needs to be a good mixture of currency and financial policy and detailed relocation policy.
The government lacks reliable ability. Since the emergence of the current government there have been many times where in the pursuit of reform the lack of experience, the ability to implement policy, and the ability to mediate conflicting interests has led to failure. The relocation of state agencies is a new test. If the negative side effects are big it will end up being a policy that only had a lot of thought put into it.
The Hankyoreh, 25 June 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Moving To the Provinces |
