"People`s Coalition Against Capital Relocation" Launched

"People`s Coalition Against Capital Relocation" held its inauguration ceremony in the afternoon of September 17, in front of Sejong Culture Center in Jongno, Seoul, and announced its future plans to carry out nationwide protests to stop the relocation of the capital.

Seventy-eight assemblymen from the Grand National Party (GNP), a number of members from metropolitan and district council across the nation, and the members of civic groups in opposition of the relocation attended the inauguration ceremony.

The members declared that "Capital relocation will not be able to resolve the problem of unbalanced development of urban and rural areas nor reduce the population density," and demanded the government not to "waste such a tremendous amount of the budget and, rather, funnel it into economic recovery," on the resolution put out on that day. They also made an announcement that they will begin collecting 1,000 signatures against the relocation of the capital. They also declared their plans to expand their movement to every part of the nation, starting with the "Assembly of a Million Against Capital Relocation" that will be held at the Seoul Square in front of the city hall on October 28.

At the ceremony, Mr. Lee Jae-oh, a GNP Assemblyman, President Lim Dong-kyu of the National Association of Metropolitan Council Chairs, President Lee Jae-chang of the National Association of District Council Chairs, Honorary President Lee Choon-ho of the Korean Federation of Women Voters, and Professor Choi Sang-cheol, the dean of the Graduate School of Environment at Seoul National University, were presented as co-representatives.

Jae-Young Kim jaykim@donga.com