Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, announced a pledge on the 16th to complete Sejong City as a de facto administrative capital. The plan includes fully transferring the National Assembly building in Yeouido by 2029 and expediting the construction of the second presidential office, while also transferring central administrative agencies remaining in the metropolitan area to fundamentally reorganize the governance system centered in the metropolitan area.
On the afternoon of the same day, Kim visited the National Assembly's Sejong building site and received a report on the progress of the Sejong Assembly from Lee Jun-bae, the People Power Party’s Sejong City committee chair, after which he announced these promises for the Chungcheong region.
First, he promised the 'complete transfer of the National Assembly building.' He stated that the legislative functions will be fully transferred to Sejong City without the National Assembly remaining in Yeouido, and that the transfer date will be advanced to 2029 instead of the currently planned 2032.
Along with this, he announced plans to promptly complete the construction of the second presidential office and to push for a constitutional amendment to formalize Sejong City’s status as the administrative capital. Kim emphasized, "Let’s carry out the construction of the presidential office and the complete transfer of the National Assembly by 2029, not 2032."
Additionally, it was noted that the People Power Party intends to promote the transfer of central administrative agencies remaining in Seoul, such as the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of Justice, along with seven presidential committees (National Human Rights Commission, National Education Commission, Financial Services Commission, Nuclear Safety Commission, Personal Information Commission, National Communications Commission, etc.), and cultural properties like the Korean Language Museum and Sejong Institute to Sejong City. This aims to eliminate inefficiencies between Seoul and Sejong and realize genuine administrative unification.
Kim highlighted, "Seeing this site today, there’s nothing we can’t do here. Not only the National Assembly building but also the presidential office could very well work here, as this place is very spacious and good," adding, "There would be no issues if everything is moved. If the National Assembly and the presidential office come, Sejong would be in a very convenient position as an administrative capital."
He also proposed a plan for 'Sejong Megacity,' which will lead the balanced development of Sejong City and surrounding areas. To achieve this, he stated the aim to significantly improve the local transportation network through underground rail construction in the Joongwon urban area and the construction of the second outer beltway. Kim promised, "(Sejong) has some transportation inconveniences. If I become president, I will surely complete the CTX (Daejeon-Sejong-Chungbuk metropolitan express railway) connecting Daejeon-Sejong-Osong-Cheongju-Cheongju Airport immediately."
He also emphasized plans to reorganize the northern industrial complex into an AI-based advanced industry specialized zone and to create a new city in the background, completing a growth axis where jobs, living, and industry circulate positively. Additionally, he mentioned plans to create a favorable environment for attracting cultural and commercial facilities such as private enterprises, department stores, and performance venues, while actively supporting the establishment of specialized high schools and universities to enhance residential conditions and urban appeal.
In line with Kim's visit to Sejong, the People Power Party announced regional pledges encompassing four cities and provinces in the Chungcheong area (Daejeon, Sejong, Chungbuk, Chungnam). The five major strategies include: ▲ Complete the administrative capital ▲ Expand the metropolitan transportation network ▲ Foster Mirae Industries and advanced bio sectors ▲ Improve living conditions ▲ Strengthen local autonomy, and they stated their intention to build a 'Chungcheong Megacity' based on Sejong City.
In Daejeon, they plan to establish the Daeduck Quantum Cluster and the AI-based Convergence Innovation Center, as well as promote the Daejeon Smart Agriculture Valley, the second phase of the International Science Business Belt project, and the creation of a national industrial complex for nanotechnology and semiconductors. In Sejong, there are plans to reorganize the northern industrial complex into an AI-based advanced industry complex.
In Chungnam, they announced plans to create a 'Korean version of Silicon Valley' Bay Valley Megacity along the west coast and to focus on fostering semiconductor post-processing and aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industries. Specifically, plans are in place to create a defense-specialized cluster in the area of Nonsan-Gyeonggyu to link defense administration, research, and industry, while Gongju and Buyeo will transform into historical and cultural sites by creating Hanok villages from the Baekje era. They also expressed the intention to present a local autonomy model by integrating Daejeon and Chungnam.
In Chungbuk, they announced plans to create a 'K-Bio Square' where AI and advanced bio converge. They also proposed a blueprint to establish Osong as the 'K-Bio Square' for AI and bio convergence and to attract the KAIST Biomedical Campus. They plan to designate Cheongju as a special city in response to local extinction and will pursue the expansion of medical and sports infrastructure along with the lifting of restrictions on the Cheongju Prison and military facility protection zones.
The People Power Party's Policy Headquarters stated plans to sequentially announce other regional pledges in the future.