Sejong City administrative capital development

Efforts to establish Sejong City as South Korea’s administrative capital have progressed through legislative debate and high-level political visits. In late September 2026, a parliamentary debate was held at the National Assembly to discuss the necessity of the Special Act on the Administrative Capital. Proponents argued the act is vital for national balanced development and to mitigate the concentration of power in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Following these discussions, National Assembly Speaker Jo Jeong-sik visited Sejong to inspect the site for the planned National Assembly Sejong Office Building. Jo described the establishment of an administrative capital as a ‘historical necessity’ to address regional imbalances. Local officials, including Sejong Mayor Jo Sang-ho, have called for the Special Act to be enacted within the year and for the eventual codification of the city’s status in the Constitution. The construction of the National Assembly Sejong Office Building is projected to begin in 2029, with an expected completion date of 2033. The project aims to integrate the presidential Sejong office, the National Assembly building, and public spaces into a national symbolic zone.

In October 2026, marking his first 100 days in office, Mayor Jo Sang-ho unveiled a four-year plan to establish Sejong as a complete administrative capital and a center for balanced national growth. This roadmap includes 25 strategies and 148 tasks focused on economic self-sufficiency, cultural welfare, and citizen participation. During his initial term, the mayor reported progress in securing funds for the National Assembly Sejong Branch and the Presidential Sejong Office, alongside major economic investments from entities including Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Asung Daiso, and the Actis AI Data Center.