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Korea’s president-elect decides to ‘return the Blue House to the people’

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol set a goal to open the Blue House to the Korean public “before spring ends”.

Kim Eun-hye’s spokesperson on March 18 confirmed that South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol wants to “return the Blue House to the people before spring ends”, implying turning the famous green roof building into a public place before he takes office on May 10. .

The Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae) has been used as Korea’s presidential palace from 1948 to the present. However, since the launch of the election campaign, Mr Yoon has announced his intention to work in a different location if elected president because he feels the building is too far from the public. The building is located in a remote area in the foothills of northern Gwanghwamun.

Meanwhile, opposition parties and South Korean media claim that the president-elect wants to step down from office because of feng shui.





Yoon Suk-yeol, South Korea's president-elect, before a televised debate in Seoul on March 2.  Photo: Reuters.

Yoon Suk-yeol, South Korea’s president-elect, before a televised debate in Seoul on March 2. Photo: Reuters.

Yoon’s team is considering using the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Gwanghwamun district or the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan district as new offices.

“We need to reach a consensus on this issue. This is the most important commitment of president-elect Yoon,” Kim Eun-hye said, adding that the government’s transition team would arrange consultations and discuss Yoon’s workplace.

Ms. Kim believes that Mr. Yoon wants to leave the Blue House because the building “is a symbol of supreme power in history”. The president-elect hopes that his decision to move will convey the message of “returning power to the people” during the last election campaign.

Meanwhile, several media outlets in Korea estimated that Mr Yoon’s transfer fee could cost more than 1 trillion won (over 827 million USD). Kim Eun-hye called this estimate “exaggerated” and promised that the government transfer team would not waste taxpayers’ money.





South Korean President Moon Jae-in welcomes his Costa Rican counterpart Carlos Alvarado at the Blue House in November 2021. Photo: Yonhap.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in greets his Costa Rican counterpart Carlos Alvarado at the Blue House in November 2021. Photo: Yonhap.

Grandpa Yoon Suk-yeol Today examined two buildings that are being considered for conversion into new workplaces. His team estimated the cost of moving the presidential office to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Gwanghwamun District and the Ministry of Defense building in Yongsan District at $66 million and $33 million, respectively.

Before being elected, Yoon promised to move the presidential office from the Blue House to a government office in the Gwanghwamun district, downtown Seoul. The idea was later shelved because the area could not be secured.

Incumbent President Moon Jae-in when elected in 2017 had made a commitment to “restore the Blue House” similar to Mr Yoon’s, but eventually accepted to give up because he could not ensure security and logistical requirements.





The location of the Blue House and two buildings are being considered for Mr Yoon Suk-yeol's new office.  Image: Joongang Daily

The location of the Blue House and two buildings are being considered for Mr Yoon Suk-yeol’s new office. graphic: Joongang Daily

Trung Nhan (Based on Yonhap)

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