Seoul was the third largest city in Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), the capital of Joeson Dynasty (1392-1910), Japanese Korea (1910-1945), and is the capital of the Republic of Korea, with many historical monuments in and around it. However, many presidents (and dictators) considered moving the capital of Korea. Why were they? And why is Korea's newest city, Sejong Special Self-Governing City, (Named after the famous King Sejong), the first of its kind, the new parliamentary capital of Korea?
First off, a little background information about Sejong City. Founded in July 1st, 2012, Sejong is made out of most of its former municipality, Yeongi Gun (Pronounced Goon, meaning county; not urban-centered), and took away Jang-gi District and a part of Lee-dang district (To make Janggun district) and a part of Banpo District (Not to be confused with the one in Korea) to add to Gum-nam District. And most of Buyong District of Cheongwon County (Now part of Chung-ju City, capital of North Choongchung Province) was added, too.
The two-capital thing is actually a part of a movement to move South Korea's capital southward, due to North Korean threats. In fact, it started in 1977, where the government of "President" Park Chung-hee did some research about Choongchung province and then decided that Jang-gi District of Gongju would make a perfect capital. (Remember, Jang-gi is now part of Janggun District, in SEJONG!). But no progress was made since then, and finally it reappeared to the world when in the 2002 presidential election, former president Roh Mu-hyun talked about a new capital somewhere in Choongchung, from making it to the parliamentary capital and then moving other government bodies such as the Blue Roof House (Presidential home of Korea). And then through a 2006 poll/referendum, the name Sejong was decided.
The new capital movement was temporarily stopped by the Lee Myungbak government from 2007 to 2012, whom opposed the idea. Lee Wangoo, a key player in Korean politics right now, and was the governor for South Choongchung province at the time was mad about the idea, however had to resign his spot due to controversy. The new capital movement resumed after 2012, and now it is the parliamentary capital of Korea, solving Seoul's overpopulation problems.
Anyways, since Sejong is a de facto capital, it might be considered that South Korea has one capital. But since they moved the parliament to Sejong, so we'll count it as two.
Phew.
[DO NOT COPY]
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| Map of Sejong. TKostolany-Wikipedia/ (CC) |
The two-capital thing is actually a part of a movement to move South Korea's capital southward, due to North Korean threats. In fact, it started in 1977, where the government of "President" Park Chung-hee did some research about Choongchung province and then decided that Jang-gi District of Gongju would make a perfect capital. (Remember, Jang-gi is now part of Janggun District, in SEJONG!). But no progress was made since then, and finally it reappeared to the world when in the 2002 presidential election, former president Roh Mu-hyun talked about a new capital somewhere in Choongchung, from making it to the parliamentary capital and then moving other government bodies such as the Blue Roof House (Presidential home of Korea). And then through a 2006 poll/referendum, the name Sejong was decided.
The new capital movement was temporarily stopped by the Lee Myungbak government from 2007 to 2012, whom opposed the idea. Lee Wangoo, a key player in Korean politics right now, and was the governor for South Choongchung province at the time was mad about the idea, however had to resign his spot due to controversy. The new capital movement resumed after 2012, and now it is the parliamentary capital of Korea, solving Seoul's overpopulation problems.
Anyways, since Sejong is a de facto capital, it might be considered that South Korea has one capital. But since they moved the parliament to Sejong, so we'll count it as two.
Phew.
[DO NOT COPY]
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