Lee to unveil position on Sejong City

President Lee Myung-bak will unveil his position on the Sejong City controversy in a live broadcast discussion with the public on Friday, Cheong Wa Dae said yesterday.

He will hold a town hall meeting for 100 minutes from 10 p.m. on a range of issues including Sejong, the river renovation projects and the economic crisis, his spokesman Park Sun-kyu said. It will be organized by MBC and aired by five broadcasters.



The government is accelerating efforts to establish an alternative to the administrative city plan.

Led by Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, the government is looking to develop it into a multi-functional city centered on industry, education and science.

Lee`s aides hope the planned discussion will help calm growing divisions over the issue.

Lee is expected to express his regret over his endorsement of the plan two years ago and ask for public support for revising the plan for the sake of national interest.

The administrative city plan was initiated by the former liberal government as part of efforts to balance development across the nation and reduce overcrowding in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.

The Grand National Party initially opposed the proposal but endorsed it at the National Assembly in 2005, ahead of crucial local elections the following year.

Lee also promised to implement the project during his presidential campaign in 2007.

(jjhwang@heraldm.com)



By Hwang Jang-jin