Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday instructed the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to review measures on whether to relocate the ministry to the southeastern port city of Busan by the end of this year, officials said. Lee gave the instruction to Oceans Minister Kang Do-hyung at a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day, according to presidential officials.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the planned relocation of the ministry, which sits in the city of Sejong, the administrative capital, is one of Lee's key campaign pledges. The relocation is aimed at developing Busan into a leading maritime hub and advancing balanced regional development. Recognizing that building a new government complex would take time, Lee directed the ministry to consider all available options, regardless of the type of building or rental arrangement, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told reporters.
The ministry has officially begun preparations for the move, though issues such as securing a budget and addressing concerns among employees remain. Some officials have suggested that temporarily renting private facilities could be a practical step to accelerate the relocation.