Chungcheong Town Hall Meeting, the self-contradictions and regional monopoly logic of local government heads from the Chungcheong region who did not come to Daejeon

The significance of the Chungcheong town hall meeting and the absence of attendees

On July 4, 2025, the town hall meeting held in Daejeon gained national attention. During this event, President Lee Jae-myung had the opportunity to communicate directly with local residents and share opinions on various issues. However, it was notable that the four metropolitan mayors representing the Chungcheong region, including Daejeon, Sejong, South Chungcheong, and North Chungcheong, were all absent from the meeting. They announced that their absence was a protest against the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' push to relocate to Busan. They strongly criticized the government's decision through press conferences and statements, claiming it was a decision that threatens the completion of the administrative capital. However, this resistance can be interpreted as emphasizing local privileges without considering administrative responsibilities or national balanced development. While they are in positions to represent the voices of local residents, they instead justified their claims through a logic of regional self-interest.

Emotional agitation surrounding the claims of local government leaders

Local government heads of the People Power Party in the Chungcheong region raised their voices in opposition, claiming that the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan is a betrayal by the government and a hastily made decision lacking sufficient public discussion. However, such claims contain serious logical leaps. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries was never designated as an institution to be relocated to Sejong City, which has been clearly established since the planning phase for the construction of Sejong City. The local government heads of Chungcheong are distorting this fact to support their convenient arguments. President Lee Jae-myung emphasized at a town hall meeting that the relocation of the ministry to Busan is a decision based on the effectiveness of policies. Yet, the local government heads interpreted his words emotionally, displaying a behavior close to political agitation. This emotional rhetoric has been used more as a tool for strengthening the unity of a specific group rather than gaining public sympathy.

Irresponsible Absences and Communication Failures

What stands out in this situation is that local government heads did not attend the town hall meetings. They turned a blind eye to the opportunity to convey the voices of the residents of the Chungcheong region to the President and hear the government's explanations. They claim the reason for their absence is that they were 'not invited,' but in reality, town hall meetings are organized based on voluntary participation through prior applications and open registrations. In this context, the absence of some local government heads from the town hall meetings can only be interpreted as a political expression. Their actions seem to prioritize rallying support from their local base rather than genuinely protecting the rights and interests of Chungcheong residents and attempting to engage in discussions regarding opposing policies. Local government heads have the responsibility to engage in dialogue about regional issues and present realistic alternatives.

The monopolistic thinking and regional hegemony of Chungcheong

The local government leaders in the Chungcheong region are exhibiting a hegemonic attitude aimed at monopolizing the attraction of central administrative agencies based on a sense of entitlement towards their region. They argue that the relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries constitutes discrimination against the Chungcheong region, insisting that it must come to Chungcheong. However, this stance presupposes that a specific region has the right to monopolize national resources. The Chungcheong region already hosts many government ministries and affiliated organizations and possesses the functionality of an administrative capital, making its reluctance to accommodate the requests of other regions problematic. Busan, as a region where administrative functions related to the ocean are concentrated, understands the relocation of the ministry as a choice that enhances the efficiency of policy implementation. One should not overlook that the insistence on attracting all institutions to Chungcheong while ignoring this reality reflects a monopolistic mindset that contradicts true balanced development.

Political mobilization and distortion of public sentiment

Local government heads in the Chungcheong region and lawmakers from the People Power Party claim to represent public sentiment by saying that 'the public sentiment of Chungcheong has been outraged.' However, this appears to be an attempt to justify their position through political rhetoric rather than being based on public opinion polls or discourse. In contrast, there was an active dialogue between the president and local residents during the town hall meeting, and constructive discussions about local issues took place. The president made it clear that not every region can have everything they want and requested consideration for the perspectives of other regions. However, the local government heads tended to emphasize emotional rhetoric rather than policy criticism, showing a tendency to use the region as a political weapon. Criticism of this approach is unavoidable, as such a political attitude causes local communities and the public to lose trust.

Balanced Development and the Role of Regions

The relocation of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan is part of a redistribution aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency. This is not an intention to diminish the functions of the Chungcheong region, but rather an effort to rationalize the administrative structure of the entire country. However, local leaders in the Chungcheong region distort this decision and argue that the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries should be relocated to Chungcheong, which ultimately reflects a defensive response aimed at protecting regional vested interests. Such an attitude is a continuous political self-contradiction that undermines public trust. National policies should not be designed for specific regions but must be efficient for the whole. Consequently, balanced development should not be about preserving the vested interests of specific areas, but about reasonably allocating resources according to the functions of each region, and Busan's growth as a maritime center is part of this overall benefit. Emotions must not be exploited for political logic, and regional development should progress in a way that benefits everyone.