Government Pledges Faster, Broader Relocation of Agencies to Drive Balanced Regional Development

South Korea is moving to accelerate its long-running effort to shift government functions away from the Seoul metropolitan area. The government said it will review 119 central administrative agencies and affiliated bodies this year, then determine which will relocate to Sejong and when.

The review covers major institutions still based in Seoul and surrounding areas, including the Justice Ministry, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Foreign Ministry, the Unification Ministry, the Defense Ministry, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, the National Police Agency and the Financial Services Commission. Agencies belonging to ministries already based in Sejong also remain in the capital region, including 15 under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry and six under the Climate, Energy and Environment Ministry.

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The prosecution agency and police agency, which require separate buildings, will move after new buildings are constructed.

The government plans to begin with ministries such as Justice and Gender Equality and Family in the first half of next year. Agencies that need separate buildings, including the prosecution and police agencies, will move after new facilities are built. The Foreign and Unification ministries could be coordinated with the planned relocation of the presidential office to Sejong in August 2029 and the opening of a Sejong National Assembly branch in 2033.

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We will begin leading relocations immediately next year without waiting for new government buildings, using rented private buildings where necessary.

The Interior and Safety Ministry plans to announce an agency relocation plan this year under the Multifunctional Administrative City law. Because five ministries, including Justice, Gender Equality and Family, Foreign Affairs, Unification and Defense, are excluded from the law’s current relocation targets, the government will also pursue legal amendments.

The push reflects concerns over administrative inefficiency and Seoul housing costs. Earlier relocations moved 43 central government agencies and affiliated bodies to Sejong between 2012 and 2021, but officials continued travelling frequently between Sejong and Seoul because key constitutional institutions remained in the capital. The government also plans to relocate about 350 public institutions from next year, including institutions that did not move during the first relocation programme. It will offer housing, education, childcare and financial support, including new allowances for long-distance and early relocation.

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We will provide strong support to institutions that move farther and faster.