The relocation of the presidential Blue House and the National Assembly to make Sejong the new administrative capital instead of Seoul won’t be pursued unless it has broad national support, said Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun.

“(The government) only welcomes the idea if it has bipartisan support. The ruling party alone cannot push through it,” Chung said in an exclusive interview with Maeil Business Newspaper on Wednesday.

His opinion differs from the leaders of the ruling Democratic Party including its head Lee Hae-chan who argues the move is possible by tweaking the laws.

Chung denied the talk of administrative capital relocation has a political design to mitigate public disgruntlement over housing prices in Seoul.

The DP has been actively pitching for the move of the Blue House and National Assembly to make Sejong the country’s administrative capital. Sejoing city houses government offices, while administrative and legislative activity remains in the capital after the plan to create a new administrative city by former Roh Moo-hyun administration fell through following a ruling by the Constitutional Court that found the idea unconstitutional.

During the hour-long interview, Chung also said the government is mulling a plan to ease real estate tax on single homeowners that live in their properties valued at in between 500 million won ($422,311) and 600 million won.

“The government is resolute that it should ease tax burden on single homeowners that actually live in their properties,” Chung said. “[Tax burden should be lifted] on houses priced lower than 500 million or 600 million won” that are below the median price of Seoul apartments is about 900 million won.

Chung noted that the ruling party passed a string of property-related bills this week calling for a rise in acquisition tax, transfer income tax, and comprehensive real estate holding tax that may seem “somewhat extreme” but asked for understanding as it was “inevitable” to tame the sky-high housing prices.

As part of efforts to curb soaring housing prices in Seoul and surrounding areas, the Moon Jae-in administration has introduced dozens of measures that include easing redevelopment rules to expand residential supply and imposing heavy taxes on multiple homeowners.

By Lee Ji-yong, Yeon Gyu-wook, and Lee Eun-joo

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]