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Where will the new Future, Creativity and Science Ministry be located?

JANUARY 24, 2013 06:25

Where will the new Future, Creativity and Science Ministry be located? . JANUARY 24, 2013 06:25. . The location of the tentatively named Future, Creativity and Science Ministry, a campaign pledge of President-elect Park Geun-hye, is arousing speculation both with the government and the people.

A growing number of voices say the ministry be based in Sejong City under a long-term perspective, but the presidential transition committee is considering either the government complex in Seoul or the southern suburb of Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, due to space problems in Sejong City.

The Gwacheon complex is the strongest candidate due to its pragmatic advantages. The finance, land and transport, and fisheries and forestry ministries have been moved to Sejong City, while the Science and Technology Commission and the Broadcasting and Communications Commission will move to Gwacheon. With the Future Ministry expected to have around 1,000 staff, it could use one of the three vacant buildings in the Seoul complex without having to realign existing space.

The Seoul complex is also a candidate but has space restrictions. The vacant spaces due to the absorption of the Science and Technology Ministry by the Future Ministry and the relocation of the Office of the Prime Minister to Sejong can accommodate just 800 people. Nevertheless, the new ministry could be based in Seoul due to President-elect Park`s pledge to make it a key locomotive of economic growth.

Though the ministry will likely be moved to Sejong City over the long term, doing this is no easy matter. The organizations to be relocated to the Sejong complex, which is slated for completion by next year, have been decided. Portions of existing ministries have been split in the latest government reorganization like the Education Ministry, but the Knowledge Economy Ministry will be expanded due to the trade function that was added to its duties.

Building a new complex for the Future Ministry will take at least three to four years. A member of the transition committee said, "Locating the ministry in Sejong City is appropriate considering early settlement of the city and the connection with the national science and business belt. But the decision is difficult due to complex reasons."

The location of the tentatively named Future, Creativity and Science Ministry, a campaign pledge of President-elect Park Geun-hye, is arousing speculation both with the government and the people.

A growing number of voices say the ministry be based in Sejong City under a long-term perspective, but the presidential transition committee is considering either the government complex in Seoul or the southern suburb of Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, due to space problems in Sejong City.

The Gwacheon complex is the strongest candidate due to its pragmatic advantages. The finance, land and transport, and fisheries and forestry ministries have been moved to Sejong City, while the Science and Technology Commission and the Broadcasting and Communications Commission will move to Gwacheon. With the Future Ministry expected to have around 1,000 staff, it could use one of the three vacant buildings in the Seoul complex without having to realign existing space.

The Seoul complex is also a candidate but has space restrictions. The vacant spaces due to the absorption of the Science and Technology Ministry by the Future Ministry and the relocation of the Office of the Prime Minister to Sejong can accommodate just 800 people. Nevertheless, the new ministry could be based in Seoul due to President-elect Park`s pledge to make it a key locomotive of economic growth.

Though the ministry will likely be moved to Sejong City over the long term, doing this is no easy matter. The organizations to be relocated to the Sejong complex, which is slated for completion by next year, have been decided. Portions of existing ministries have been split in the latest government reorganization like the Education Ministry, but the Knowledge Economy Ministry will be expanded due to the trade function that was added to its duties.

Building a new complex for the Future Ministry will take at least three to four years. A member of the transition committee said, "Locating the ministry in Sejong City is appropriate considering early settlement of the city and the connection with the national science and business belt. But the decision is difficult due to complex reasons."

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