[originaltext] South Korea has confirmed it will move its future seat of gov

South Korea has confirmed it will move its future seat of government to a rural site south of its capital Seoul. Prime Minister Lee Hai-chan told a news conference Wednesday the government has selected the Yongi-Gongju area, which lies in the center of South Korea, to be the site for the new capital.
    The government plans to begin buying land for the 7,100-hectare site next year, with construction scheduled to start in 2007 and end in 2030. The government chose the site of the new capital, which has yet to be named, over two other areas because of its superior transport and environmental conditions, officials said. The presidential office and 72 other key state institutions will be located there. But other organizations, such as the National Assembly and the Supreme Court will decide whether to move or not.
    President Roh Moo-hyun made relocating the capital away from crowded Seoul a key plank of his election campaign. At the time he said he believed it would help decentralize the country and boost regional development in Asia’s third-largest economy.
    But the relocation — which could cost as much as $94 billion — has sparked fierce debate among rival parties, who have raised questions about the efficiency and feasibility of the project. The main opposition Grand National Party claims the government is recklessly pushing what it says is an unrealistic plan without popular support. A media survey showed that more than half of the public are opposed to the plan, citing its high costs compared with its expected effects.