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Incheon officials protest relocation of Overseas Koreans Agency to Sejong
Local leaders and lawmakers in Incheon are demanding the South Korean government withdraw its plan to relocate the Overseas Koreans Agency to Sejong City. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety recently announced a phased relocation of 44 central administrative agencies from the Seoul metropolitan area to Sejong starting in 2027, with the agency in Songdo slated for relocation in the first half of that year.
National Assembly member Bae Jun-young criticized the move as a "predatory policy" that strips Incheon of its public institutions. He noted that the relocation follows a recent announcement to consolidate 109 agencies, which includes eight Incheon-based entities such as the Incheon Port Authority and the Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology. Bae argued these institutions are vital to the local economy and tax base.
Yeonsu-gu District Head Lee Jae-ho also called for the plan's cancellation, stating the agency is a core growth engine for the district. He criticized Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae for suggesting that a proposed Overseas Koreans Education and Culture Center could compensate for the loss of the agency, calling such a measure an insufficient substitute. Local officials are urging bipartisan cooperation to resist the relocation.
Entities
Bae Jun-young · Incheon · Lee Jae-ho · Overseas Koreans Agency · Park Chan-dae
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to relocate 44 central administrative agencies from the metropolitan area to Sejong starting in 2027.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Eight public institutions in Incheon, including the Incheon Port Authority, are subject to consolidation.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Overseas Koreans Agency is scheduled for relocation in the first half of 2027.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae proposed attracting an Overseas Koreans Education and Culture Center to the region.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The government announced the consolidation of 109 agencies following a meeting on September 3.