hankyoreh

The “innovative cities” (hyeoksin dosi) construction project, initiated with the idea of correcting the serious imbalance between the greater capital region and the provinces, is taking a beating. A Board of Audit and Inspection , or BAI, report released on April 15 says the economic effects were exaggerated, and the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs is going on the offensive. By the looks of it, this project, so ambitiously pursued by President Roh Moo-hyun, could end up being scrapped.

A massive state project that was going to involve trillions of won should not be turned back by herding public opinion into one corner, all the more so because “innovative cities” are supposed to be about deterring centralization in the greater capital region and achieving balanced regional development.

The social and economic cost of overconcentration in the greater capital region is enormous. Close to half the country’s population lives near Seoul, and most economic activity is concentrated in this region as well. The continued fattening up of the capital region dries up the local economy. The disparity between the capital and the provinces is just getting worse. The biggest reason the government of Roh Moo-hyun came up with the innovative cities project was because it wanted to correct this serious imbalance. The significance of the project is still valid.

There would be real difficulties in scrapping innovative city construction at this point. In some locations, land compensation is already more than 90 percent complete. In some places, they’re in the middle of ground digging. Suddenly halting a project that is well under way and going according to plan has the potential to cause a whole different kind of chaos. Already you hear predictions of “popular revolt” in some places if construction stops.

The way in which the project has hit center stage is also a problem. The accusations began when portions of the BAI report ended up in the news media. Much about this makes it look as if someone wants to erase all traces left by President Roh. It became a full-blown bit of excitement when the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs joined in. The Blue House further contributed to the confusion when a key official there told a reporter that “no official position has been decided.” It is as irresponsible as can be to be turning a large project on its head, one being pursued for balanced development, and to do so without a script.

There might indeed have been aspects of immoderation in President Roh’s pursuit of this plan. Any problems with it should be fixed, but a responsible government should review any anticipated issues and work on them gradually and effectively, without causing chaos.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]