South Korea Unveils Plan to Relocate Core Government Agencies

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 13th that key government departments, including the Foreign Ministry, Unification Ministry, and Defense Ministry, will relocate from Seoul to Sejong Special Self-Governing City no later than 2031. This relocation plan will affect nearly 10,000 civil servants. Located about 110 kilometers south of Seoul, Sejong City opened in July 2012. Relocation efforts began in 2012, with over 40 government departments and public institutions, including the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, already moved. According to the plan announced on the 13th, a total of 44 government departments and public institutions will relocate between 2027 and 2031 in phases, depending on specific departmental needs and office space availability.