"Relocating Alone"

Only 30% of those workers whose government offices relocated to other cities have moved with their family members, which is why more and more people think that the government’s goal of achieving balanced development through relocating government offices will not be realized.

According to results of a survey conducted by the Korea National Housing Corporation and the Korea Expressway Corporation Wednesday, seven out 10 government officials said they would move to a city by themselves for reasons of education, among others.

The Korean National Housing Corporation, which will soon move to Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, said in its relocation plan submitted to the Ministry of Construction and Transportation, that out of its 1,919 employees, only 30%, or 576 people, will move to Jinju along with their family members.

The Korea Expressway Corporation, which will move to Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang, found that only 24% of its employees plan to relocate there with their family members. Twenty-three percent of respondents said that they will commute from Seoul or move to Daejeon or other cities between Seoul and Gimcheon. The expressway corporation said that its employees are reluctant to move because they are concerned about their children’s education. Therefore, those with preschoolers are for the relocation, while those with schoolchildren are strongly against the plan.

koh@donga.com