The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family are moving forward with plans for a local relocation to Sejong City in the first half of next year, raising questions about the potential revival of the special supply system for apartments that was offered to employees of relocating agencies during the city's early days.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on September 4, the two ministries are set to begin the relocation process in earnest next year. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the National Police Agency plan to secure office space before proceeding with their moves.
Data from Sejong City indicates that the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family have a combined workforce of 1,100, while the police and prosecutors' offices employ around 3,000 people. This suggests that, assuming an average of three family members per employee, the relocation could lead to an influx of over 10,000 residents.
As various committees finalize their relocation plans, the announcement of public institution relocation plans scheduled for October is expected to increase the number of agencies moving to Sejong City. Considering the relocation of central government facilities and agencies, some forecasts suggest that the population influx could exceed 20,000.
In light of this, there are growing calls for urgent housing measures for employees of the relocating agencies.
When the Government Sejong Complex opened, around 5,500 public servants from six agencies, including the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Fair Trade Commission, moved to Sejong.
To support the settlement of relocating agency employees, the government temporarily operated a 'special supply system' that prioritized up to 70% of apartment sales for public servants. However, this system was abolished in July 2021 due to criticisms that relocating public servants were not actually residing in the city and were only seeking profit from real estate price increases.
Now, five years later, as the government plans a second round of central administrative agency relocations, there are renewed calls to reinstate the special supply system for apartments. On September 3, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo stated at a public institution relocation plan announcement that the government would provide substantial support for relocation and housing costs to ensure that employees of relocating agencies do not face inconveniences.
Sejong City is also considering allocating 10% of the private apartment sales planned for supply between October and December to special supply for employees of relocating agencies. According to housing supply regulations, without establishing a separate system, local government heads can allocate up to 20% of general sales as special supply at their discretion.
A Sejong City official noted, “Even without establishing a separate system, we can secure special supply quantities at the discretion of the local government head. However, in cases like this where a large-scale relocation plan is announced, additional discussions with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport regarding the special supply system may be necessary.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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