This article was originally posted on Jayu Press and translated by OKN Correspondent.
President-elect Yoon Seok-youl made an official announcement on the relocation of the presidential office to Yongsan on March 20. He plans to move the presidential office from the Blue House to the Defense Ministry compound in Yongsan and to begin working at the new location on May 10. Regarding the criticism of this plan, he quelled talks by presenting facts that previous governments and presidential candidates also pushed for relocation.
President-elect Yoon held a press conference at the annex of the Korea Banking Institute located in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu (Seoul), and announced his plan to relocate the presidential office, saying, “It’s difficult, but it’s a decision for the future of the country.”
As a result, the Blue House will be made open to the public. Yoon also plans to improve communication with the public by creating a national park around the Yongsan presidential office as soon as possible.
“Considering the inconvenience to the public and to re-open the Blue House to the public, we decided it was right to quickly make the decision and promote it to relocate to the Defense Ministry compound in Yongsan,” said Yoon. “We plan to move in immediately after the May 10 inauguration ceremony.”
Regarding the reason for the change from the original pledge of “the era of Gwanghwamun” to “the era of Yongsan,” he explained, “We realized the inconvenience of the Gwanghwamun residents due to minimal security measures was very serious,” adding, “We judged it difficult to return the Blue House to the citizens because the use of some of the facilities within the Blue House was unavailable.”
As for the “Yongsan office,” he explained that “The Defense Ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff offices in Yongsan are equipped with security command facilities, so we can return the Blue House to the citizens with little inconvenience to them.” He added, “We will further improve communication with the people during our term by creating a great national park around the Yongsan presidential office as soon as possible.”
President-elect Yoon also stated that once the presidential office relocates to the Defense Ministry compound, the Defense Ministry will move to the Joint Chiefs of Staff compound, explaining that the relocation cost can be minimized since they would be moving to the next building over. He also mentioned that it would be suitable for the Joint Chiefs of Staff to move to the Namtaeryeong area following the relocation of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command to Pyeontaek.
“There is a saying that space determines the duty and the work,” and Yoon emphasized that “It is not just a simple relocation of space, but it is my determination to serve and work properly for the people and my willingness to fulfill my promises made with the people.”
Regarding concerns over a possible security vacuum caused by the relocation to the Defense Ministry compound, he said, “It is difficult to accept the argument that there would be a defense vacuum should a military base moves,” adding that “We will complete the relocation most efficiently as soon as possible so it does not interfere with our national security.”
President-elect Yoon also introduced a detailed plan for the new presidential office in Yongsan. He said, “We will set up a press center on the first floor of the Yongsan presidential office to communicate frequently with the media,” adding, “We will reduce the number of Blue House employees and create as many secretariat and conference rooms as possible for the public-private joint committee.”
He said that the Hannam-dong Hall will be the presidential residence. However, he stated, “In the long run, I think it would be better to build a facility to serve as the official residence or a guest house for foreign guests, but I haven’t considered that at the moment.”
The total cost of the relocation is estimated at 49.6 billion won, including 11.8 billion won for the relocation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff offices, 25.2 billion won for the remodeling of the Defense Ministry compound, 9.997 billion in security and moving expenses, and 2.5 billion won in remodeling the official resident in Hannam-dong. Regarding the issue of reserve funds and the relocation, Yoon said he would ask the current administration for their cooperation, considering it as one of the transfers of duties.
President-elect Yoon also brushed aside criticism by stating the fact that previous governments and presidential candidates also pledged for relocation. According to released data, there have been plans to relocate the presidential office since 1993, during President Kim Young-sam’s administration. According to the report, President Kim Young-sam pledged as a presidential candidate in 1993 that he would work from the Seoul government complex, open the roads near the Blue House after taking office, allow entrance to Mt. Inwang, and open the reception hall to the public after demolishing the safe house.
He explained that President Kim Dae-jung also made plans to work from the Seoul government complex in early 1998, but those were dismissed due to security and cost issues. However, President Kim Dae-jung allowed photographs to be taken of the Blue House fountain and allowed the public to view the Blue House for a certain period.
President Lee Myung-bak also considered relocating his office, the presidential secretary office, and the presidential security office to the annex of the Seoul government complex building during his tenure, but that was dismissed due to costs and parliamentary approval. During the 18th presidential election when President Park Geun-hye was elected, independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo and Democratic Party presidential candidate Moon Jae-in also promised to relocate their offices to the Seoul government complex building. President Moon Jae-in also pledged for “the era of a Gwanghwamun president” when he was a candidate and even made plans after he was elected, but it was eventually dismissed after delaying the relocation of his office due to security and costs.
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