Ministry of Justice, Gender Equality Ministry to Move to Sejong Next Year... 109 Public Institutions to Be Reduced

Relocation of investigative agencies such as the Prosecution Service, Investigation Agency, and National Police Agency to proceed after construction of new offices


Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Unification, and National Defense also included..

The Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, National Police Agency, and other central administrative agencies located in the greater Seoul area will begin a phased relocation to Sejong City starting in the first half of next year. This follows the relocation of government ministries since 2012, and under President Lee Jaemyung’s “National Territorial Transformation” strategy, the remaining central administrative bodies in the capital region will be moved to Sejong in order to fully realize the city’s function as the “administrative capital.” However, the announcement regarding the relocation of the Financial Services Commission and related public institutions—a major point of contention—was postponed in light of strong opposition.

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook is speaking at a press conference on the relocation of administrative and public institutions and the reform of public institution functions at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. Attending the conference from left were Yoon Ho-joong, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Kim Yoon-duk, Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Heo Jang, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance. September 3, 2026 Photo by Cho Yong-jun

On September 3, Prime Minister Han Seongsuk held a briefing at the Government Seoul Complex, detailing the government’s “Plan for the Relocation and Reform of Administrative and Public Institutions.” She stated, “We will prioritize the transfer of organizations with the largest scale and greatest ripple effects to Sejong City beginning in the first half of 2027. The presidential office in Sejong will be constructed by August 2029 to place the administrative heart of the country in Sejong, and by supporting the timely completion of the National Assembly’s Sejong branch by 2033, we will firmly establish Sejong as the hub of national governance, completing the administrative-centered multi-functional city.” The briefing was attended by Yoon Hojung, Minister of the Interior and Safety; Kim Yunduk, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; and Heo Jang, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

To relocate the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family as designated, revisions to relevant laws will be required. Minister Yoon commented, “We will move to amend the ‘Special Act on Multifunctional Administrative City Construction (Haengbokdosi Act)’ to remove these agencies from the list of relocation-exempt institutions. The specific agencies, methods, and timing for relocation will be finalized following consultations with related central agencies and public hearings.” He added, “For agencies requiring separate buildings, such as the Prosecutors' Office (Prosecution Service and Major Crime Investigation Office) and National Police Agency, we will proceed with relocation only after new facilities are constructed. Rather than relocating every agency at once, we will take a phased approach, taking into account each agency’s work conditions and readiness, to ensure there is no administrative vacuum.” In connection with this, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will form a task force together with the Office for Government Policy Coordination.

In the long term, the relocation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Unification, and Ministry of National Defense to Sejong City is also under review. Minister Yoon stated in response to related questions, “This will be considered in line with the timing of the relocations of the Presidential Office and the National Assembly.”

Prime Minister Han Seongsuk is entering the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd for a press conference regarding the relocation of administrative and public institutions and the reform of public institution functions. Attending the press conference, from left, are Yoon Hojung, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety; Kim Yunduk, Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; and Heo Jang, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. September 3, 2026 Photo by Cho Yongjun

Additionally, the government announced plans to consolidate public institutions, reducing the number by a total of 109. However, it did not provide detailed plans for which institutions or locales would be included. The government had initially intended to announce the full relocation plan, including public institutions, by the end of last month, but due to strong pushback, it opted to continue internal discussions. Observers note that the government’s falling approval ratings were also a consideration. The terminology used was shifted from “consolidation” to “functional reform.”

Nevertheless, the government maintains its position of “no exceptions” to the relocation of public institutions. The plan is to first pursue consolidation of overlapping public institutions, then announce detailed relocation measures between October and November. Prime Minister Han said, “For some 350 public agencies in the capital region, we will release a relocation plan in the fourth quarter of this year with the guiding principle of minimizing those that remain, and begin the relocation process from 2027. We will avoid fragmented allocation and instead concentrate direct assignments in innovative cities, maximizing the strength of regional hubs.”

Minister Kim also signaled strict measures regarding the second phase of public institution relocations, stating, “We will minimize residual agencies in the greater Seoul area,” and “We will completely re-examine the retention criteria applied during the first phase of relocation.” He emphasized again, “Barring institutions that must absolutely remain, in principle, all are considered eligible for relocation.”

One of the most contentious issues is whether policy banks such as Korea Development Bank, Export-Import Bank of Korea, and Industrial Bank of Korea, as well as other financial public institutions, will move. The National Financial Industry Labor Union is planning a general strike on September 4 in opposition to the government’s policy of relocating public institutions to regions outside the capital. Prime Minister Han said, “There will inevitably be differences of opinion and interest. We will listen carefully to the various voices from local governments, labor, and other stakeholders to create a reasonable relocation plan that can gain broad agreement. We will communicate closely with all interested parties to minimize social conflict.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.