Posted November. 30, 2009 08:45,
A survey has found that 51.1 percent of the Korean people agree with President Lee Myung-baks apology and urging of a revision to the original plan for Sejong City, while 41.5 percent do not.
In addition, 52.7 percent agreed that educational institutions and think tanks should move to Sejong City instead of administrative agencies, while 35.8 percent said government offices should move to the city in line with the original plan.
The Dong-A Ilbo commissioned the survey to Korea Research Center after President Lee announced his views on pending national agenda in the TV program Dialogue with the President, which was aired live Friday night.
The survey was conducted Saturday afternoon of 1,000 adults nationwide, including 300 people in the Chungcheong provinces and 700 outside of that region.
Sejong City is the proposed site of a planned administrative district in South Chungcheong Province.
About 23 percent said they have changed their opinions on Sejong City enough to believe that the original plan should be revised. More than nine percent said they changed their minds to believe that the original plan must be implemented.
The majority 56.1 percent said their opinions of the city have changed little.
In the Chungcheong region, just 37.4 percent agreed with President Lees apology and urging to change the original plan, while 55.2 percent said they disagree, or 13.7 percentage points higher than the national average.
On ways to resolve the Sejong City dispute, 54.5 percent suggested implementation of the original plan, compared with 37.4 percent who supported revision.
The four-river restoration project drew mixed reviews, with 26.9 percent saying it must be implemented as planned; 36.2 percent saying it should be scaled down; and 30.1 percent saying it must be halted immediately.
On the presidents administration of state affairs, 46 percent said he is doing fine, while 44.9 percent said he is not doing well.
The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent at the 95% confidence level.