The Special Act on Balanced National Development was recently amended (enforced on July 8, 2020) to designate innovation cities in Metropolitan City/Do/Special Self-Governing Do (except for the Seoul Metropolitan Area), where such cities have not been designated, as applied by the head of such local government.

In Chungnam, where an innovation city can be designated after the enforcement of the Special Act on Balanced National Development amended as above, the population has continued to outflow to the Multifunctional Administrative City and deepened an economic downturn and imbalance. As such, it has been suggested that it is important to encourage local hiring in additionally designated innovation cities, including relocated public institutions.

For public institutions relocated to innovation cities additionally designated under the Special Act on Balanced National Development, this Act aims to put in place a special case that increases the current percentage of hired local people (24% in 2020 → 30% from 2022) as prescribed by Presidential Decree to strengthen capabilities in local universities while promoting balanced national development (Article 29-2 (2) newly inserted).

Obligatory hiring by relocated public institutions (Article 29-2)