Cheongwadae's Move to Yongsan... Where Are the Ministry of National Defense Employees Going?

North Korea Faces Expected Difficulties in Consultation with US Over ICBM Launch
Risk of Hacking During Office Internet Network Installation Work

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] As the possibility of relocating the next presidential office to the new Ministry of National Defense (MND) building in Yongsan, Seoul increases, a chain relocation of MND building employees is expected to be inevitable as early as this month. It has been decided not to consider dispersing to other government offices such as Gwacheon, but only moving within the MND buildings.

A government official said on the 17th, "If a request for office relocation comes from the Presidential Transition Committee, we plan to submit a plan," adding, "Internally, MND new building employees will only move within the building."

Approximately 500 Blue House employees will move to the MND new building. Adding the 300 Blue House press corps members, the total is similar to the roughly 1,000 personnel currently working at the MND new building.

The MND plans to relocate employees only within the premises of the building. The offices of the Minister and Vice Minister and various departments currently in the MND main building will move to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and MND annex buildings, and departments currently using the MND annex will move to the former Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) building in Huam-dong, Yongsan, Seoul.

If unavoidable, the MND also plans to relocate the Joint Warfighting Simulation Center (JWSC), MND Support Group, Defense Facilities Headquarters, MND Honor Guard Battalion and Information and Communications Battalion, MND Prosecutor’s Office, Military Court, and Defense Investigation Headquarters, all located within the MND premises. The United States Forces Korea Relocation Project Group will move to the former DAPA building in Huam-dong. However, departments responsible for military intelligence and command will be excluded from the relocation.

The MND is known to have already drafted a preliminary relocation plan for the MND and JCS at the request of the Transition Committee. According to the draft, ▲ the MND will vacate the currently used building within this month, ▲ remodeling work including office arrangement will be done next month, and ▲ President-elect Yoon will move in with his inauguration in May.

There are also growing concerns within the military. If North Korea launches an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), confusion may arise during consultations with the U.S. side. The military uses a separate internal intranet (Defense Network) apart from the general internet, and there is heightened vigilance against potential hacking incidents during the relocation process.