Lee plans to visit countryside to monitor public opinions

President Lee Myung-bak plans to tour southern provinces this week to monitor public opinions on key national issues, including his decision to drop a plan to move parts of the government to a new administrative town under construction in central Korea, a presidential aide said Sunday, according to the Yonhap News.



Citing inefficiency, Lee, in a major reversal of his position, announced Friday that he was scrapping a plan to move about a dozen government ministries and agencies out of Seoul to Sejong City under construction in South Chungcheong province.



Lee instead proposed that the envisaged city be made a hub of science and technology that can be self-sufficient with all needed infrastructure in place.



Opposition parties, aligned with disgruntled residents in Chungcheong and other areas, including Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces, vowed to block Lee`s plan.



"President Lee will this week travel to Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces to better collect public opinions," said Lee Dong-kwan, senior presidential secretary for public information.



"The president is ready to communicate with the people with an open-minded attitude. But he will sternly abide by principles in dealing with all inter-Korean and social issues."

In a nationally televised town hall meeting on Friday, President Lee apologized for social conflict and confusion caused by his government`s decision to call off the Sejong City project, saying that a reversal of the new administrative town project will be beneficial to the nation and the people.