New president begins term at Yongsan, plans to return to Cheong Wa Dae after renovation

People look at the main building of Cheong Wa Dae in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on June 4. / Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung began his official duties at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on June 4, the day of his inauguration. Once renovation work at Cheong Wa Dae is completed, the new president plans to end the “Yongsan era” and return to Cheong Wa Dae. It has not yet been decided whether he will use the official residence in Seoul’s Hannam-dong, previously occupied by former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Lee took the oath of office and attended a luncheon at the National Assembly earlier in the day before heading to the presidential office in the afternoon.

From his candidacy days, Lee had pledged to relocate the presidential office back to Cheong Wa Dae. In response to a question during an interview on JTBC's YouTube channel on April 30 about where he would situate the presidential office if elected, he replied, “Cheong Wa Dae is the best,” adding, “It is very old, symbolic, and the most optimal location.” He criticized the current presidential office in Yongsan, citing serious security concerns such as wiretapping, surveillance, and overall vulnerability. “It is completely exposed and surrounded by apartment buildings. It is like we are discussing state affairs under the eyes of the world,” he said.

Instead of setting up a temporary office at a third location like a government building, the president is expected to continue using the presidential office in Yongsan for the time being. He said, “Does it make sense to waste hundreds of billions or even trillions of won just because the head of state feels uncomfortable or uneasy?” and emphasized, “We must renovate Cheong Wa Dae as quickly as possible and move in.” It is estimated that the renovation will take about three to four months.

Lee has not yet made a statement regarding the use of the official residence in Hannam-dong previously used by former President Yoon. However, considering security concerns, commuting from his private home in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, to the presidential office in Yongsan may be impractical, making the official residence in Hannam-dong a likely first home for the presidential couple. The Foreign Minister’s official residence in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, is also being considered as a temporary option.

The exact timing of the move remains uncertain. Since Lee began his term without a presidential transition committee, it may take some time depending on the progress of security and facility adjustments. Similarly, former President Moon Jae-in, who also took office without a transition team, initially stayed at his private residence and moved into Cheong Wa Dae three days after his official inauguration.

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.

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