From 2015, KDI School will be moving to its new home in Sejong City. After more than 16 years in its Seoul Campus, the premier educational institute will finally follow other government institutions that have already moved to the new administrative city. What is in store for KDI School in moving to its new home? What should current and prospective students look forward to this movement?

Officially known as the Sejong Metropolitan Autonomous City, this new home for KDI School is carved from parts of central region of Korea, Chungcheong-do, and the former Yongi County. Sejong City was established as fulfillment of the election pledge of the former Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in the early 2000s which aimed to lessen the congestion in the capital and push for balanced regional development. Since 2012, government ministries and offices have been moving to the city in three stages, led by the relocation of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance in 2012. A total of 36 government agencies are expected to move to the city by the end of 2014, including 9 ministries and some 13,000 government officials to work in the city. Thus, infrastructure development is a top priority, not only constructing a government complex but recreational and living facilities as well such as apartment complexes, parks and libraries to accommodate the new citizens. The population living in Sejong is expected to increase to about 500,000 citizens by 2030, truly turning the city the administrative center of Korea.

As KDI School moves in to the new administrative capital, it is expected to open new opportunities for its students, taking advantage of its proximity to government agencies and research institutes. In addition, Sejong City is highly accessible to the rest of Korea, within a 2-hour range to Seoul and other major cities such as Busan and Gwangju. According to the KDI School Admissions Team, there are plans to have a broader, nationwide recruitment for domestic students. The school expects to see an increase in the number of students coming from the Korean government.

Another change for the KDI School is the introduction of a new academic program, the Master of Public Management (MPM). This shall be the third academic program offered by the KDI School, together with the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Development Policy (MDP). This reflects the commitment of the KDI School to provide quality training and education for future policy makers and leaders. Working vis-à-vis the academic programs, exchange programs for South Korea and Europe (GLiMPSE), internship and joint-research opportunities are being prepared for.

Above all else, KDI School will have a new home at Sejong City. The Sejong Campus boasts of state-of-the-art facilities to support and enhance the educational environment for students. The brand-new campus houses fully-equipped classrooms, seminar and workshop halls and videoconference facilities, as well as student labs and student-friendly lounges conducive for learning. The KDI School Library has been installed with the latest technology and top-notch resources for better research; and students will be able to have 24-hour access to a computer lab with high-performance computers and equipment as along with student chambers where desks and lockers will be provided.

The brand-new residence hall of the Sejong Campus has 2-bed rooms that have its own toilet and bath. Communal areas such as laundry room and lounges offer a wide space for students to interact. Recreational facilities for physical fitness are provided for as well, such as a gym, a soccer field, a basketball court, a ping-pong room and a tennis court. The new residence hall is located just behind the KDI School, providing convenient access to the students.

The new and well-equipped Sejong Campus will not only complement the cutting-edge education programs of KDI School but will open a new chapter for the school. This will enable KDI School to strengthen its curriculum and research capabilities while pioneering on a customized educational experience that bank on the great synergy created between various adjacent institutes. It is without doubt where benefits go beyond the cost. As the KDI School moves towards a new era, may constant and open communication with students serve as a beacon for continuous change and development in the years to come.

By Rigoberto Banta Jr. (2014 MPP, Philippines)