[Full Text] President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol: "The Blue House will be returned to the people on May 10"

President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol speaking.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Ki-min Lee and Jun-yi Park] President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol announced on the 20th that he will relocate the presidential office from the Blue House to the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan, Seoul.

President-elect Yoon made this statement during a press conference held at 11 a.m. at the annex of the Korea Financial Training Institute in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, where the transition committee office is located.

He said, "During the election process, I promised to return the Blue House, a symbol of imperial power, to the people. I said I would move the presidential office closer to the people, to Gwanghwamun." He added, "Currently, the Blue House’s main building and the secretariat building are separated, which hindered smooth communication between the president and aides. This was to improve that and enhance smooth communication and work efficiency. In particular, I promised to break away from the closed nature of the Blue House space and always communicate with the people to properly carry out the people's will."

He continued, "During the process of establishing the pledge, various issues were thoroughly reviewed by experts, but after the election, upon closely examining the plan to relocate the office to government buildings in Gwanghwamun, I realized it was not an easy issue," explaining the background for moving the presidential office to Yongsan.

Regarding the use of existing Blue House facilities, he emphasized, "The Blue House will be opened and returned to the people on May 10, the start of the term. We will return the main building, the guesthouse, as well as the Nokjiwon garden and Sangchunjae, which are called the best gardens, all to the people."

Below is the full text of President-elect Yoon’s press conference statement.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Dear fellow citizens,

During the election process, I promised to return the Blue House,

a symbol of imperial power,

to the people.

I said I would move the presidential office

closer to the people, to Gwanghwamun.

Currently, the Blue House’s main building and secretariat building are separated,

which hindered smooth communication

between the president and aides.

This was to improve that

and enhance smooth communication and work efficiency.

In particular, I promised to break away from the closed nature of the Blue House space,

always communicate with the people,

and properly carry out the people's will.

Previous administrations have recognized

the problems with the current Blue House space

and have attempted relocation several times.

However, these attempts were repeatedly thwarted due to security issues.

During the process of establishing the pledge,

various issues were thoroughly reviewed by experts,

but after the election, upon closely examining the plan to relocate the office to government buildings in Gwanghwamun,

I realized it was not an easy issue.

The inconvenience to citizens near Gwanghwamun

due to the minimum security measures

was found to be very serious.

Also, the use of some facilities within the Blue House is unavoidable,

making it difficult to fully return the Blue House to the citizens.

On the other hand, the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff area in Yongsan

are equipped with national security command facilities,

allowing the Blue House to be fully returned to the citizens,

and causing almost no inconvenience to citizens due to security measures.

The Yongsan area has already been developed on the premise of protecting military facilities,

and there will be no additional regulations even if the Blue House relocates there.

Above all, the surrounding U.S. military bases are scheduled to be returned sequentially starting this year,

allowing for the rapid creation of Yongsan Park,

and the Ministry of National Defense building can be used as the presidential office,

enabling communication and interaction with the people.

Although relocating the Ministry of National Defense to the Joint Chiefs of Staff building poses some difficulties, it is considered possible.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff building was constructed to be used jointly with the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, considering the transfer of wartime operational control.

Since the Combined Forces Command has moved to Pyeongtaek, space has become available,

so there are no major restrictions on the Ministry of National Defense moving to the Joint Chiefs of Staff building.

Since it is a relocation within the same complex, the cost of moving the presidential office can also be minimized.

In particular, the Joint Chiefs of Staff building was located in Yongsan considering cooperation with the Combined Forces Command,

but with the Combined Forces Command moving to Pyeongtaek,

it is considered desirable to move to the Namtaryeong area, where the war command headquarters is located.

This would allow the Joint Chiefs of Staff to maintain a unified operational command system in peacetime and wartime,

and provide a more comfortable and stable working environment for Joint Chiefs staff and soldiers.

We will promptly create a public space of several hundred thousand pyeong around the Yongsan presidential office

to further strengthen communication with the people during the term.

Dear citizens,

With only 50 days left until the start of the term,

I understand concerns that the relocation of the presidential office might be rushed.

However, once inside the Blue House grounds,

I judged that it would be even more difficult to break away from the Blue House, a symbol of imperial power.

Considering the inconvenience to the people,

and the aspect of fully opening and returning the Blue House to the people,

I judged that it is right to promptly decide and proceed with relocating to the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan.

Dear citizens,

I am well aware that relocating the presidential office is not an easy task.

However, if I break my promise to the people again because it is difficult,

no future president will dare to attempt it.

Above all, the current structure, which relies on a small number of aides,

makes it difficult to properly respond to national crises.

More important than the president’s authority

is properly carrying out the people's will,

and working for the people.

It is a difficult task, but a decision made for the future of the nation.

This is not simply a move of space,

but a determination to work properly,

and my will to fulfill the promise to the people.

I earnestly ask for your understanding.

The Blue House will be opened and returned to the people on May 10, the start of the term.

We will return the main building, the guesthouse,

and the Nokjiwon garden and Sangchunjae, which are called the best gardens,

all to the people.

Dear citizens,

I also understand well that more important than physical space

is the will to communicate.

I will place a press center on the first floor of the Yongsan presidential office

and become a president who communicates with the media frequently.

I will also prepare measures to improve the presidential office’s work.

Breaking away from the existing Blue House, which dominates ministries and monopolizes power,

I will establish a public-private joint committee,

and concretize measures to reflect dynamic private sector ideas

in the nation’s core agenda.

Once again, I ask for the understanding of the people.

Along with the issue of relocating the presidential office,

I will also thoroughly manage national security, the livelihoods of the people,

and overcoming the COVID-19 crisis.

[Image source=Yonhap News]