President Lee Jae-myung said on the 27th that "South Korea has no future unless it resolves the problems caused by the overconcentration of population and resources in the Seoul metropolitan area."
Lee made the remarks at a luncheon meeting with mayors, county chiefs and district chiefs from across the country, held at Cheong Wa Dae. "South Korea now faces a major crisis, including the extinction of regional communities caused by metropolitan overconcentration, along with other problems such as low birth rates and population aging," he said.
"The risk of the capital region reaching a breaking point from overconcentration and the extinction of provincial areas are threatening to push South Korea into a serious crisis from both sides at once," Lee said. "That is why the People's Sovereignty Government is completely redrawing the nation's industrial map around the three mega projects and the five-hub, three-special-zone framework, and is actively working to improve living conditions in the provinces."
"The People's Sovereignty Government has created a system of regional exemptions and benefits under which support grows more generous the farther a locality is from Seoul, and we are continuing to identify projects so that tailored support can be delivered on that basis," he said, pledging to "keep working to expand the substantive authority and finances of local governments." He added, "Only when we ease the chronic overconcentration in the capital region, awaken the potential of the entire country and create an era of growth for all in which every region rises together will we finally have a future and hope."
Lee said, however, that "the central government cannot accomplish all of these tasks on its own," adding that "cooperation between the central government and local governments is essential." He continued, "If the central and local governments become one team and move in step with one mind, I am confident we will build a South Korea where all citizens are happy."
Before the event began in earnest, Lee referred to flooding in the Himalayan mountain region of north-central Nepal, saying, "It is deeply distressing that the fate of nine of our overseas nationals remains unclear." He urged the public to "join in wholeheartedly wishing for their safe return at the earliest possible time."
