The government has selected four sites in the central part of the country as candidates for its new administrative capital.

Lee Chun-hee, who heads the presidential commission on the planned capital relocation project, announced the four candidate regions during a news conference Tuesday.

The four sites are Jincheon-Eumseong in North Chungcheong Province, and Cheonan, Nonsan-Gaeryong and Gongju-Yeongi in South Chungcheong Province.

Lee said real estate transactions and construction development at the candidate sites will be restricted effective on Thursday.

Last week, the government announced the list of 85 key administrative, legislative and judiciary agencies, including the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae, to be relocated into a new administrative capital.

The construction of the new administrative capital is scheduled to start in 2007 with relocation set to be completed by 2014.