Financial workers take to streets over state-run banks' potential relocation

Financial workers staged a rally in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on Friday to oppose the government’s consideration of relocating state-run banks and other public financial institutions out of the capital. The Korea Financial Industry Union said about 30,000 members joined, while police estimated 14,000. The union also rejected what it called politically driven relocation and pressed for a shorter workweek, better welfare, a higher retirement age and wage hikes. The rally followed the government’s plan to phase in relocation of about 350 public institutions starting in 2027.

The rally centered on possible relocation of Industrial Bank of Korea, Korea Development Bank and Export-Import Bank of Korea.

KFIU Chairman Yoon Seok-gu said Seoul is already capable of serving as a major financial hub.

Several lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties attended the rally, including Rep. Lee Yong-woo and Rep. Kim Hyeong-dong.

The government said relocations to Sejong will begin in the first half of 2027, starting with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

The FSS labor union submitted a petition to President Lee Jae Myung on Friday, saying 85.6 percent of 1,538 employees would consider leaving if the agency moved outside Seoul.

Published Sep 4, 2026 4:27 pm KST

Updated Sep 4, 2026 4:34 pm KST

Union says Seoul already financial hub, questions need for move

Members of the Korea Financial Industry Union, a major umbrella labor group, stage a rally in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, Friday, protesting the government's move to relocate public financial institutions out of Seoul. Yonhap

Unionized workers in the financial sector took to the streets Friday to oppose the government's consideration of relocating state-run banks and other public financial institutions out of the capital.

The Korea Financial Industry Union (KFIU), a major umbrella labor group, staged a strike in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, drawing about 30,000 members, according to organizers. Police estimated the turnout at 14,000.

The rally focused on the prospect of relocating state-run banks, including Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK), Korea Development Bank (KDB) and Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank).

KFIU Chairman Yoon Seok-gu said the union opposed relocating financial institutions for political reasons, arguing that Seoul already serves as a major financial hub.

"Major financial centers such as New York, London, Tokyo and Hong Kong have their financial institutions concentrated in their cities, and Seoul is fully capable of serving the same role," Yoon said.

"What kind of logic is it to simply tell us to go somewhere else without any clear reason or justification?" he said.

The union's other demands included the introduction of a 4.5-day workweek, expanded welfare programs, extension of the retirement age and wage increases reflecting inflation.

Several lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties attended the rally in solidarity, including Rep. Lee Yong-woo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and Rep. Kim Hyeong-dong of the main opposition People Power Party.

The rally came a day after the government unveiled a road map to relocate most public institutions currently based in the capital region as part of its decentralization drive.

The plan, announced at a government-wide briefing led by Prime Minister Han Seong-sook, calls for the phased relocation of about 350 public institutions to other parts of the country.

Members of the Korea Financial Industry Union, a major umbrella labor group, stage a rally in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, Friday, to protest the government's move to relocate public financial institutions out of Seoul. Yonhap

The government said relocations to Sejong, the country's administrative capital, will begin in the first half of 2027, starting with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

It did not provide specific details or timelines for financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), or state-run banks, which had been widely expected to be included in the relocation plans.

The government said only that the institutions subject to relocation would be finalized in the fourth quarter.

The FSC and FSS have been mentioned as potential candidates for relocation to Sejong, with KDB and Eximbank potentially moving to Busan and IBK to Daegu.

The FSS labor union, which has been fiercely opposing the potential relocation, submitted a petition to President Lee Jae Myung on Friday.

"Separating private financial companies, policy lenders and financial regulators that need to operate like a single organism would weaken communication, which is needed to swiftly detect subtle changes in market conditions," the petition read. "This would ultimately undermine the competitiveness of the country's financial industry."

In a survey of 1,538 employees conducted by the FSS labor union, 85.6 percent said they would consider leaving the organization if it were relocated outside Seoul, the petition noted, urging the president to reconsider the relocation plan.

Justice, gender equality ministries among 1st to relocate to Sejong in 2027

Financial regulators' potential Sejong relocation stirs unease among employees

85% of staff consider quitting if FSS moves out of Seoul

周五，金融从业人员在首尔市中心光化门广场举行集会，反对政府考虑将国有银行和其他公共金融机构迁出首都。韩国金融产业工会称约有3万名会员参加，而警方估计人数为1.4万人。该工会还反对这项被其称为出于政治动机的搬迁计划，并要求缩短工时、改善福利、提高退休年龄和增加工资。此次集会是在政府宣布计划从2027年开始分阶段搬迁约350家公共机构之后举行的。

此次集会主要围绕韩国产业银行、韩国开发银行和韩国进出口银行可能搬迁的问题展开。

韩国金融情报中心主席尹锡九表示，首尔已经具备成为主要金融中心的能力。

执政党和反对党的几位议员都参加了集会，其中包括李勇宇议员和金亨东议员。

政府表示，搬迁至世宗市的工作将于 2027 年上半年开始，首先是司法部和性别平等与家庭部。

FSS工会周五向总统李在明提交了一份请愿书，称如果该机构迁出首尔，1538名员工中有85.6%的人会考虑离职。

发布于2026年9月4日下午4:27（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月4日下午4:34（韩国标准时间）

工会称首尔已是金融中心，质疑搬迁的必要性

韩国金融产业工会（韩国主要的工会组织）的成员周五在首尔市中心光化门举行集会，抗议政府将公共金融机构迁出首尔的举措。（韩联社）

周五，金融行业的工会成员走上街头，反对政府考虑将国有银行和其他公共金融机构迁出首都。

韩国金融产业工会（KFIU）是韩国主要的工会组织，据组织者称，约有3万名工会成员在首尔市中心的光化门广场举行罢工。警方估计参与人数为1.4万人。

此次集会的焦点是重新安置国有银行的前景，其中包括韩国产业银行（IBK）、韩国开发银行（KDB）和韩国进出口银行（Eximbank）。

韩国金融协会主席尹锡九表示，该协会反对出于政治原因搬迁金融机构，认为首尔已经是一个重要的金融中心。

尹锡悦表示：“纽约、伦敦、东京和香港等主要金融中心的金融机构都集中在各自的城市，首尔完全有能力发挥同样的作用。”

“没有任何明确的理由或解释，就让我们去别的地方，这是什么逻辑？”他说道。

工会的其他要求包括实行每周 4.5 天工作制、扩大福利计划、延长退休年龄以及提高工资以反映通货膨胀。

执政党和在野党的多位议员出席了集会以示声援，其中包括执政党共同民主党的李勇宇议员和主要反对党国民力量党的金亨东议员。

此次集会的前一天，政府公布了一项路线图，计划将目前位于首都地区的大多数公共机构迁出，这是其权力下放举措的一部分。

该计划由韩国总理韩成淑主持召开的政府全体简报会上宣布，要求分阶段将约350个公共机构迁往韩国其他地区。

韩国金融产业工会（韩国主要的工会组织）的成员周五在首尔市中心光化门举行集会，抗议政府将公共金融机构迁出首尔的举措。（韩联社）

政府表示，向国家行政首都世宗市的搬迁工作将于 2027 年上半年开始，首先搬迁的是司法部和性别平等与家庭部。

报告没有提供具体的细节或时间表，涉及金融服务委员会（FSC）、金融监管局（FSS）以及国有银行等金融监管机构，而此前人们普遍预期这些机构和银行将被纳入搬迁计划。

政府仅表示，需要搬迁的机构名单将在第四季度最终确定。

有人提到金融服务公司（FSC）和金融服务公司（FSS）可能是迁往世宗的候选机构，韩国产业银行（KDB）和进出口银行（Eximbank）可能会迁往釜山，而新加坡投资银行（IBK）可能会迁往大邱。

一直强烈反对此次搬迁的FSS工会于周五向总统李在明递交了请愿书。

请愿书中写道：“将需要像一个整体一样运作的私营金融公司、政策性贷款机构和金融监管机构分开，会削弱沟通，而沟通对于迅速发现市场状况的细微变化至关重要。这最终会损害国家金融行业的竞争力。”

请愿书指出，FSS工会对1538名员工进行的一项调查显示，85.6%的员工表示，如果公司迁至首尔以外的地方，他们会考虑离开公司，并敦促总统重新考虑搬迁计划。

司法部、性别平等部等部门将于2027年首批迁至世宗市。

金融监管机构可能将世宗市迁址的消息引发员工不安。

85%的员工表示，如果FSS迁出首尔，他们会考虑辞职。