President Lee Jae Myung urged a strong policy drive for balanced regional growth during a meeting with local government leaders on Tuesday [2].
The initiative seeks to dismantle the capital region's unipolar system by distributing high-tech resources across the country to ensure sustainable industrial growth.
Speaking at the Blue House in Seoul, Lee met with 15 municipal government representatives [1]. He called for a "one team" spirit between the central government and local authorities to implement strategies that counter the extreme concentration of resources in the capital. This coordination is intended to support AI "mega projects" and other high-tech core industries in outlying areas.
Lee focused on the need for a strategic shift toward industrial multipolarization. He specifically mentioned the expansion of large-scale investments in regions such as Yeongnam to create new economic hubs [2].
"To overcome the capital region's unipolar system, a groundbreaking strategy of industrial multipolarization—expanding large‑scale investments in high‑tech core industries to regions such as Yeongnam…", Lee said [2].
The president emphasized that the current concentration of wealth and infrastructure in Seoul hinders long-term national stability. By fostering regional clusters of innovation, the administration aims to create a more equitable economic landscape that prevents the decline of provincial cities.
“President Lee called for a "one team" spirit with local governments.”
This policy push reflects a long-standing struggle in South Korea to curb the overwhelming dominance of the Seoul Metropolitan Area. By leveraging AI and high-tech investments, the administration is attempting to create economic incentives that drive both corporate investment and population migration back to the provinces, which is critical for mitigating urban overcrowding and regional economic decay.
