Seoul Searching

Though Seoul has been the Korean capital since the fourteeth century, crowding in the city, feelings that its dominance hinders development in the rest of the country, and its proximity to the tense border with North Korea, have led to debates about moving the capital since the 1970s. Current South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun made relocation of the capital a pledge in his 2002 election campaign. And while parliament approved plans for a move last year, the President is now facing strong opposition to the move. The article examines some of the key issues and draws on the examples of other countries (including a nascent United States) to demonstrate the challenges and benefits of building a new center of government.

"'Londoners may be all too aware of the disadvantages of living in a city without a plan, but these cannot be compared with the rival disadvantages of living in a plan without a city.'"