Sejong, South Korea – By the requirements of South Korea’s teeming metropolises, Sejong isn’t a lot of a metropolis.
With a inhabitants of 400,000 folks, Sejong, a deliberate metropolis situated about 100km (62 miles) south of Seoul, doesn’t even crack the highest 20 city centres.
But when South Korea’s doubtless subsequent president has his method, Sejong may quickly turn into the nation’s “de facto” capital.
Lee Jae-myung, the overwhelming favorite in Tuesday’s presidential election, has pledged to relocate the presidential workplace, legislature and quite a few public establishments to Sejong as a part of a renewed push to ascertain a brand new administrative capital.
“I’ll make Sejong the de facto administrative capital and Daejeon a world science capital,” Lee mentioned within the run-up to the election, referring to the close by central metropolis.
“I may even push for the whole relocation of the Nationwide Meeting and presidential workplace to Sejong via social consensus.”
Sejong was conceived of in 2003 by late President Roh Moo-hyun, who believed that transferring the capital would obtain the dual goals of decreasing congestion in Seoul and inspiring improvement in South Korea’s central area.
Roh’s ambitions for Sejong have been dealt a setback the next yr when the Constitutional Courtroom dominated that Seoul ought to stay the capital.
Whereas the prime minister’s workplace and a few dozen ministries have moved to Sejong over time as a part of successive governments’ decentralisation efforts, Seoul has remained not solely the official capital but in addition the centre of political, financial and cultural life.
Better Seoul is dwelling to about 26 million folks – half of South Korea’s inhabitants – and many of the nation’s prime corporations, universities, hospitals and cultural establishments are clustered within the area.
Streets in Sejong are uncrowded (David D Lee/Al Jazeera)
On a latest Friday afternoon, Sejong’s extensive streets have been principally quiet, a world away from the bustling alleyways of downtown Seoul.
On the metropolis’s specific bus station, various authorities staff have been ready on a bus to take them to the capital.
Kevin Kim, a 30-year-old civil servant, travels to Seoul for the weekend at the very least twice a month.
“My household, pals and girlfriend are in Seoul,” Kim, who has lived in Sejong for almost two years, instructed Al Jazeera.
“I’ve to go to Seoul, as all the large hospitals are there.”
Lee Ho-baek, who works for a start-up in Sejong, additionally visits Seoul a number of instances a month.
“There simply isn’t sufficient infrastructure or issues to do within the metropolis for us,” he instructed Al Jazeera, explaining that he’s unsure if he’ll keep for much longer regardless of having moved to Sejong solely a yr in the past.
After years of roadblocks to Sejong’s improvement, together with issues about prices and constitutional legitimacy, candidate Lee’s pledge has stirred tentative indicators of progress within the metropolis.
In April, actual property transactions elevated threefold in contrast with the identical interval the earlier yr.
However with Sejong’s fortunes so carefully tied to the altering whims of politicians, there are issues about its long-term sustainability.
Throughout discussions in regards to the doable relocation of the presidential workplace and legislature by Lee Jae-myung’s Democratic Social gathering in 2020, condominium costs jumped by 45 % – solely to say no within the following years.
In Sejong’s Nasung-dong, a central neighbourhood surrounded by parks, buying centres and flashy residences, the streets have been quiet as Friday afternoon was night.
M-Bridge, a extremely anticipated multifunctional mall designed by world architect Thom Mayne’s agency, was largely empty.
In line with the Korea Actual Property Board, Sejong has a 25 % emptiness price for mid- to large-sized buying centres, the best price within the nation.
Few attracts for younger folks
“In our metropolis, the weekdays are busier than the weekends,” Jace Kim, a restaurant proprietor who got here to Sejong in 2015, instructed Al Jazeera.
“Most public staff who work inside the metropolis spend their money and time outdoors of town limits. Our metropolis is comparatively small and newly constructed, so it’s excellent for moms and kids. However we don’t have any universities or main corporations that may appeal to younger folks to return right here.”
Moon Yoon-sang, a analysis fellow on the Korea Growth Institute (KDI), mentioned Washington, DC, may very well be a mannequin for Sejong’s progress and improvement.
“If the centre of the federal government strikes to Sejong, it’s the hope that conventions and essential conferences will occur there as an alternative of in Seoul,” Moon instructed Al Jazeera.
“Right this moment, there are solely two main lodges within the metropolis, however persons are anticipating a monumental impact with the transferring of the Nationwide Meeting.”
Park Jin, a professor at KDI’s Faculty of Public Coverage and Administration, mentioned he helps Sejong turning into the official capital.
After the 2004 Constitutional Courtroom ruling, relocating the capital would require an modification to the structure, which might have to be authorised by two-thirds of the Nationwide Meeting and half of voters in a referendum.
In a 2022 survey by Hankook Analysis, 54.9 % of respondents mentioned they authorised of transferring the capital to Sejong, however 51.7 % disapproved of transferring the Nationwide Meeting and the president’s workplace out of Seoul.
The central park in Sejong, South Korea, pictured on Could 2, 2025 (David D Lee/Al Jazeera)
“As all the nation’s expertise pool and key infrastructure are staying inside Seoul, the nation must spend money on creating our different main cities,” Park instructed Al Jazeera.
“For Sejong, this implies combining with neighbouring Daejeon to turn into the nation’s centre for administration and analysis.”
Park believes that the nation’s 5 main cities outdoors the better Seoul space ought to have at the very least 4 million residents to keep up wholesome urbanisation.
Busan, South Korea’s second-largest metropolis, has 3.26 million folks. Final yr, the Korea Employment Data Service formally categorised Busan as being susceptible to extinction resulting from record-low start charges and a declining younger workforce.
Inhabitants declines in regional elements of the nation have been additional exacerbated by inner migration to Seoul. Greater than 418,000 folks moved to the capital area final yr.
Sejong has a aim of reaching 800,000 residents by 2040, roughly double its present inhabitants.
“Right this moment, many individuals received’t take into consideration transferring to Sejong. In an age the place it’s anticipated for each members of married {couples} to be working, it’s very tough for each members to seek out jobs outdoors of Seoul,” Moon mentioned.
“Possibly within the subsequent 10 years, we’d see variations in how folks view Sejong.”
Park mentioned creating a metropolis from scratch isn’t a short-term venture.
“However with the relocation of the capital, we will count on some actual adjustments to occur,” he mentioned.
