Politics · South Korea · 4 hrs ago
Public agencies seek relocation to Daejeon ahead of South Korea’s move
Public agencies are asking to move to Daejeon as South Korea prepares a second round of relocations from the capital region.
The requests include the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute, Korea Polytechnics and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency.
Daejeon offers research facilities and links to Seoul by high-speed train and has education and medical services that may make moving with families easier.
The city is home to KAIST and research institutes in the Daedeok research district, and is less than an hour from the Seoul area by KTX.
Some agency staff say they have been preparing for a move because their current office is due to make way for housing next July.
Daejeon has prepared temporary office space for up to 25 agencies, but its bid faces competition and government rules that favor clustering agencies in existing innovation cities.
The government’s relocation decisions are still pending, and Daejeon plans to promote its strengths in science, technology, intellectual property and startups.
Public agencies and their unions are asking Daejeon to host them as South Korea prepares a second round of public-agency relocations.
Several agencies have approached the city, reversing the pattern in which local governments compete to attract institutions.
They cite Daejeon’s research and transport infrastructure, access to education and health care, and a KTX journey of under an hour from the capital region.
Daejeon has prepared temporary office space for up to 25 institutions near Daejeon Station.
The city may face disadvantages because government policy favors existing innovation cities and an integrated Jeonnam-Gwangju city is legally first in line for relocations.
- Who
- Public agencies and their unions, including the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute, are seeking relocation to Daejeon.
- What
- They are asking Daejeon to support their bids to move there in South Korea’s second round of public-agency relocations.
- When
- The approaches took place from September through November 2026. The government’s announcement of relocation targets was still pending.
- Where
- Daejeon, South Korea.
- Why
- They cite Daejeon’s research, transport, education and health infrastructure, as well as its proximity to the capital region.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute union and unions from six other public agencies visited Daejeon and urged the city to help secure relocations.
Korea Polytechnics’ president met Daejeon’s mayor to discuss relocation.
Union representatives from Korea Polytechnics and three other agencies visited Daejeon to request relocation.
Daejeon’s mayor met the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute’s president and union chair to discuss a move.
- Relocation round
- South Korea’s second round of public-agency relocations
- Temporary office capacity
- 25 institutions
- Transport link
- KTX journey of under one hour from the capital region
- Innovation district
- Daejeon Station area
- Agencies cited
- Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute; Korea Polytechnics
1 source
What people are saying
Our institution is large, so local governments across the country, including Naju, Gwangju, Ulsan and Changwon, are trying to draw us in, and employees are anxious.
Given our institution’s role as a research-management body, Daejeon, where research and development functions are concentrated, is an appropriate destination.
If we can receive only institutions that want to go to Daejeon, we are not worried.