The government is reportedly considering choosing Daejeon as the site for the envisioned international science-business belt, which many other provincial governments have strenuously sought to have for their regional interests. 

Chiefs of provincial governments angrily responded to the reports that Daejeon is the most likely candidate site, saying that the government evaluation process was not fair and objective. 

The government plans to hold a session of its panel on the establishment of the science belt to review results of its evaluation on candidate sites over the weekend. It is expected to announce the final site for the multi-trillion-won complex on Monday. 

“Daejeon got good marks as many scientific research institutions and researchers are concentrated there and accessibility for foreigners is good given its housing facilities and transportation,” said a senior government official in a media interview.  

News reports said that the two centerpieces of the science belt -- a basic sciences research institute and a heavy ion accelerator -- are likely to be located in Daejeon. 

They also said that the government is considering setting up 25 of the 50 research groups of the basic sciences research institute in Daejeon and the rest in five of the 10 candidate sites for the science belt. 

The 10 sites are Daejeon, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, Ulsan, Changwon, Pohang, Cheongwon, Cheonan and Gumi. 

Kim Kwan-young, governor of North Gyeongsang Province, began a hunger strike on Friday in protest against the reported government moves to select Daejeon as the site for the science complex. 

“I cannot help being enraged as our site was not fairly and objectively evaluated although we have an excellent capacity for the science belt,” he said. 

“There will be strong resistance should the government decision for the site be made based on unreasonable standards and without considering the strong regional aspirations for the site.”