South Korea Monday chose the Yeongi-Gongju area in the country's central region as the favorite site for its new administrative capital over three other contenders.

The Yeongi-Gongju region earned the highest score of 88.96, beating rival Gongju-Nonsan area by a wide margin, according to the Presidential Committee on Administrative Capital Relocation.

South Korea plans to officially announce the choice of the region as the new capital site sometime in August after holding public hearings and consultative meetings among relevant ministries, committee officials said.

The Gongju-Nonsan area took second spot with 80.37, followed byCheonan (75.02) and the Eumseong-Jincheon area (66.87), the committee said in a statement issued at the end of a meeting designed to put together score results for the four candidates.

The Yeongi-Gongju region, about 160 kilometers south of Seoul, has been touted as the favorite since South Korea unveiled the short list of four candidate sites for the new capital in early June. It scored highest in balanced national development effect, accessibility, environment and natural conditions, but not in economic feasibility.

In late December, the legislature passed a special law on capital relocation, clearing the way for the government to start the project.

Source: Xinhua