Presidential candidate Roh Moo-hyun's political pledge to move the "administrative capital" has become this coming presidential election's hottest issue. The Grand National Party and Millennium Democratic Party are engaged in a daily battle, and with the presidential candidate's joint discussions on TV yesterday the general public's interest in this matter is rapidly heightening.

However to decide and finalize this type of important issue like moving the capital during a presidential pledge phase is inappropriate. Moving the administrative capital is a complicated and sensitive problem. For example, Australia, Brazil and Pakistan, which moved their capitals in the 20th century argued over the issue for 20-30 years and still have conflicting views on the result of the achievement. This way of determining the fate within the period of a month is illogical.

Of course moving the administrative capital can be looked at to relieve the over-congested capital and promote balanced growth across the nation. There are other alternatives such as dispersing several government ministries and agencies by function to other regions rather than moving the whole political and administrative function to a newly built city. Regardless of the solution, enough time should be spent on the process of reaching public consensus before making a final decision.

Currently, as revealed in recent discussions, there is not even the least agreement on the need to move the administrative capital. Even though one can sympathize with the fact that we cannot leave the "Seoul Republic" like it is, questions still rise on the urgency of moving the administrative capital, committing national resources without even considering other issues.

The question of Why Chungcheong Province?" and the cost of moving and objections such as "What happens to Seoul?" are some of the issues that should be dealt with. With so many questions left unanswered the issue of the administrative capital cannot be concluded with the election result alone.

December 12, 2002