The government and ruling Uri Party have agreed to submit a motion seeking parliamentary approval of their plan to relocate 11 constitutional institutions out of Seoul to a new administrative capital.

The agreement was reached at a Wednesday meeting between party lawmakers and officials from a presidential commission in charge of the capital relocation.

Participants also agreed to strongly respond to the opposition party's call for a national referendum before pushing ahead with the relocation of the administrative capital.

Meanwhile, Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak joined the call for a national referendum, arguing that the relocation plan is being pushed forward too hastily and is causing concern among the public.

The mayor also urged the government to decide which projects it should place priority on at a time when the nation is faced with other important tasks requiring enormous expenditures, including the relocation of American forces in South Korea.