Jo Incheol: "No 'backdoor' retention of public institutions in Seoul metro area... Apply strict standards"

Despite the "minimize continued presence" principle, 42 of 105 institutions in the first round retain organizations in the Seoul metropolitan area
Criteria for approving continued presence and a post-approval monitoring system should be established alongside the second-round relocation plan

The government has set out a principle of minimizing the number of organizations and personnel remaining in the Seoul metropolitan area in the second round of public institution relocations to regional areas. However, specific criteria for allowing them to remain are still being developed, it has been confirmed. With 40% of the institutions included in the first round retaining organizations in the metropolitan area, calls are growing for the government to establish criteria for approving their continued presence and a system for monitoring them after approval, alongside its plans for the second round.

According to an analysis of data submitted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to Rep. Jo Incheol of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, 42 of the 105 institutions included in the first round of regional relocations retained organizations in the Seoul metropolitan area. A total of 2,321 employees remain in those organizations.

Rep. Cho Incheol

The institution with the most employees remaining in the metropolitan area was Korea Asset Management Corporation, with 291. Korea Expressway Corporation followed with 241, then Korea Securities Depository with 180, Korea Internet & Security Agency with 174, and National Pension Service with 135. The five institutions had a combined 1,021 employees remaining in the area, accounting for 44.0% of the total.

The figures came to light as the government prepares for the second round of public institution relocations to regional areas.

In September 2026, the government set "minimizing the number of institutions and personnel remaining in the Seoul metropolitan area" as a key principle. It is working to finalize the relocation plan in the fourth quarter of 2026 and begin the relocation of leading institutions in 2027.

However, according to Rep. Jo's office, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is still developing criteria for approving institutions' continued presence in the Seoul metropolitan area, as well as criteria for clustered placement in innovative cities.

Rep. Jo said, "Some functions may need to remain in the metropolitan area depending on the nature of the work, but we need to define specific criteria for determining whether continued presence is necessary and how many employees should be allowed to remain. Since more than 2,000 people still work in the metropolitan area even after the first round of relocations, we must continue to assess whether the functions and staffing levels are appropriate after approval."

He added, "The central aim of regional relocation is not merely to move headquarters, but to distribute public functions and quality jobs across regions and revitalize local economies. The second round can deliver tangible results for balanced national development only if we use the experience of the first round to establish criteria for institutions remaining in the metropolitan area and a system for monitoring them afterward."

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