About 20,000 people Tuesday gathered at the square in front of Seoul City Hall and demanded the government hold a national referendum for a plan to relocate the administrative capital to Chungchong Province, or cancel it.

Members of the Seoul City Council, Seoul City officials, those from the city's 25 district offices and civic activists participated in the rally.

"The relocation move is creating a new source of regional animosity, sharply dividing the nation at a time when all of us should unite to overcome national adversities," said Lim Dong-gyu, chairman of the Seoul City Council.

"The government is pushing ahead with a plan that can determine the future of the Korean people without an agreement. It is obviously wrong."

Lim called on the government to conduct a national vote and seek opinions from the Korean people for the relocation plan, on which President Roh Moo-hyun has made it clear that he wouldn't hold a referendum.

Holding a vote for the relocation plan is not legally binding, but critics argue the government has not held enough debates and discussions on the issue. The government claims the capital move is the key to achieve a balanced regional development.

The rally comes as the Presidential Committee on Administrative Capital Relocation is evaluating four candidates to make the final selection for the new site. The location was to be made public on July 1, but the announcement has been delayed by one week.

During a recent interview with The Korea Times, Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak reaffirmed that he would take the lead in seeking legal action to block the capital move unless the government holds a referendum.

"It is the duty for the President to put such a critical national issue as the capital relocation to a vote. He should have asked for opinions from experts and the public," he said.

The National Forum Against Capital Transfer, a group of civic activists in Seoul, argued the idea to move the capital is not based on the Constitution, saying it will file a petition with the Constitutional Court next month.

"We have formed a team of legal experts to seek a legal solution. The petition will be filed next month," an activist attending the rally said.

In the face of growing opposition, Roh referred the issue to the National Assembly on June 18, saying he would follow a decision by the legislature, whose control has moved into the hands of the pro-government Uri Party following the April 15 general elections.

The opposition Grand National Party also called on Roh to hold a referendum on the capital transfer, one of Roh��s key campaign pledges during the 2002 presidential race.

Source: Agencies