South Korean liberal presidential hopeful's plan to move oceans ministry to Busan sparks backlash

South Korean liberal presidential hopeful's plan to move oceans ministry to Busan sparks backlash

Controversy is mounting over liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential contender Rep. Lee Jae-myung's proposal to relocate the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries from Sejong to Busan. The strongest backlash came from the lawmaker's own constituency in Incheon. Two days after Lee announced the pledge Friday as part of his broader plan to revitalize Korea's southeastern industrial complex, civic groups and businesses in the western port c…

Uneven Ground: Busan, Incheon, and the Capital Bias

Busan, South Korea — In the ongoing national conversation about decentralization and balanced regional development, the cities of Busan and Incheon have emerged as high-profile contestants—not merely in pursuit of government institutions or symbolic projects, but as proxies in a much broader struggle for relevance, resources, and recognition in a country long dominated by its capital region. Their simultaneous bids to host the Ministry of Oceans…