Posted November. 02, 2009 08:15,
Ruling Grand National Party heavyweight Park Geun-hye yesterday partially backed off from her insistence on sticking to the original plan to build Sejong City, the proposed administrative district in the countrys central region.
The plan to build Sejong City as a national administrative center is a promise to the public and residents of the Chungcheong provinces made by the National Assembly, not by an individual. My suggestion (on additions to the original plan) should not be downgraded as having been motivated by the political convictions of one individual, she told reporters at the Buddhist temple of Haeunjeong in Busan Saturday.
This came after she said Oct. 23, "The original plan must be pursued, and any changes the government deems necessary must be a plus alpha on the original, not a subtraction."
On Prime Minister Chung Un-chans plans to revise the project, Park, the former head of the ruling party, said, He seems unaware of the severity of the parliamentary democratic system and the great weight a promise to the public carries.
I heard that Sejong City will be a ghost town if the plan is carried out as the government now proceeds. By that logic, it seems like the Grand National Party has pledged to thoroughly deliver on its promises on the city on a number of occasions including by-, general and presidential elections just to garner votes. But thats not true.
Park said the concept of a multi-functional administrative city literally pursues self-sufficiency supported by functions such as culture, education and technology.
The original plan should be carried out and improvements should be made as plus alpha, if needed. It is undesirable for the government to break its original promise, she added.