Embassies express concern over foreign ministry's Sejong relocation plan

The Korean government plans to relocate the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Sejong, about 110 kilometers south of Seoul, with the move expected by 2031. Foreign embassies in Seoul are assessing concerns that the relocation could make diplomatic activities and communication more inconvenient. The government says it will consult sufficiently to ensure diplomatic functions continue smoothly.

Twenty-seven of the 44 ministries and agencies subject to relocation will move in two phases during the first and second halves of next year.

The remaining 17 agencies, including the foreign, unification and national defense ministries, comprise 6,934 employees and will move in stages by 2031 after new office buildings are built.

More than 110 foreign embassies, international organizations and representatives are based in Seoul.

A 2005 law on construction of the administrative capital had exempted five ministries, including the foreign ministry, from relocation.

Published Oct 14, 2026 5:13 pm KST

A sign for Daesagwan-ro is seen in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, Wednesday. The street’s name — “daesagwan," which means embassy in Korean — reflects the neighborhood’s concentration of foreign diplomatic missions and ambassadorial residences. Yonhap

Foreign embassies in Seoul are quietly monitoring the Korean government’s plan to relocate the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Sejong, about 110 kilometers south of the capital, with some expressing concern over the “inconvenience” the move would create for diplomatic activities.

Of a total of 44 ministries and agencies subject to relocation, 27 will relocate in two phases in the first and second halves of next year, while another 17 agencies, comprising 6,934 employees, will move in stages by 2031, after new office buildings are constructed. The foreign ministry is among those 17, along with the ministries of unification and national defense.

With more than 110 foreign embassies and international organizations and representatives based in Seoul, the announcement has created uncertainty, particularly as no detailed relocation plan has been announced. Most embassies appear to be quietly assessing the situation.

44 government agencies to relocate to Sejong by 2031

One European representative based in Seoul said it was still "too early" to evaluate the impact, adding they may discuss the matter internally as well as with their headquarters before formally raising any questions with the foreign ministry at a later stage. Another European embassy said it was waiting for the ministry to provide details before taking any further steps.

Some embassies went further in expressing concern.

An official from one Asian mission said they had naturally assumed that the foreign ministry would not relocate, as all the embassies and other international representatives are in Seoul. Citing a 2005 law on the construction of the administrative capital that had exempted five ministries — including the foreign ministry — from relocation, the official said he was "really surprised" to hear the news.

"Relocating the embassy would be difficult, given that most of (our country's) companies and nationals are based in Seoul," the official said, noting that protecting their citizens remains the mission’s top priority.

"If the foreign ministry does go to Sejong, I cannot help but say there would be inconvenience of having to travel back and forth between Seoul and Sejong to communicate with the ministry."

A European diplomat echoed the view that the foreign ministry's relocation would make matters "inconvenient," while another official from a different Asian embassy expressed hope that the ministry will consider holding briefings and meetings in Seoul, if it does relocate.

The foreign ministry said it will "engage in sufficient consultations to ensure that diplomatic functions, including those involving the diplomatic corps in Korea, continue to be carried out smoothly and without disruption."

A senior ministry official said the ministry plans to check with the Office of the Chief of Protocol or the division responsible for diplomatic missions to assess how many inquiries have been received and what plans are being considered.

"As we are still at an early stage, if concrete details come out, I assume more specific questions may arise. The ministry will monitor the situation and check with the relevant department as well," the official said.

韩国政府计划将外交部迁至首尔以南约110公里的世宗市，预计将于2031年完成。驻首尔的外国使馆正在评估此次搬迁可能给外交活动和沟通带来不便的担忧。韩国政府表示，将进行充分磋商，以确保外交职能顺利开展。

44 个需要搬迁的部委和机构中有 27 个将在明年上半年和下半年分两个阶段搬迁。

其余 17 个机构，包括外交部、统一部和国防部，共有 6934 名员工，将在新办公楼建成后分阶段搬迁至 2031 年。

首尔设有110多个外国大使馆、国际组织和代表机构。

2005 年关于行政首都建设的一项法律豁免了包括外交部在内的五个部委的搬迁。

发布于2026年10月14日下午5:13（韩国标准时间）

周三，首尔龙山区汉南洞出现“使馆路”的路牌。这条街的名字“使馆”在韩语中意为“使馆”，反映了该地区外国使团和大使官邸的集中分布。（韩联社）

驻首尔的外国使馆正在悄悄关注韩国政府将外交部迁往首都首尔以南约 110 公里的世宗市的计划，一些使馆对这一举措可能给外交活动带来的“不便”表示担忧。

在总共44个需要搬迁的部委和机构中，27个将在明年上半年和下半年分两期搬迁，另外17个机构（共计6934名员工）将在新办公楼建成后，于2031年前分阶段搬迁。外交部、统一部和国防部均在这17个机构之列。

首尔拥有超过110家外国使馆和国际组织及代表机构，这一消息引发了诸多不确定性，尤其是在尚未公布详细搬迁计划的情况下。大多数使馆似乎正在悄悄评估形势。

到2031年，44个政府机构将迁至世宗市。

一位驻首尔的欧洲代表表示，现在评估此事的影响“为时尚早”，并补充说，他们可能会先在内部以及总部讨论此事，之后再正式向外交部提出任何问题。另一家欧洲大使馆表示，他们正在等待外交部提供详细信息，然后再采取进一步行动。

一些大使馆表达了更强烈的关切。

一位来自亚洲某使团的官员表示，他们理所当然地认为外交部不会搬迁，因为所有大使馆和其他国际代表机构都在首尔。这位官员援引2005年关于行政首都建设的法律，该法律豁免了包括外交部在内的五个部委的搬迁，并表示听到这个消息他“非常惊讶”。

“鉴于我国大多数公司和国民都位于首尔，搬迁大使馆将很困难，”这位官员表示，并指出保护本国公民仍然是使馆的首要任务。

“如果外交部真的去世宗市，我不得不说，往返首尔和世宗市与外交部沟通会很不方便。”

一位欧洲外交官也表达了类似的观点，认为外交部的搬迁会使事情变得“不方便”。另一位来自亚洲其他国家大使馆的官员则表示，如果外交部真的搬迁，希望它能考虑在首尔举行简报会和会议。

外交部表示，将“进行充分磋商，以确保包括驻韩外交使团在内的各项外交职能继续顺利、不受干扰地开展”。

一位高级官员表示，该部计划向礼宾司司长办公室或负责外交使团的部门核实，以评估已收到多少问询以及正在考虑哪些计划。

“由于目前仍处于早期阶段，如果出现具体细节，我估计会引发更多具体问题。该部门将密切关注事态发展，并与相关部门核实，”这位官员表示。