[Presidential Office Relocation to Yongsan] Police Begin Full-Scale Preparations Starting with Relocation Tasks

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The police are gearing up for practical preparations regarding the relocation of the presidential office to Yongsan. Concerning President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign promise to move the presidential office, the police have been preparing reviews on their respective areas between Gwanghwamun and Yongsan. However, with Yongsan finally decided as the site, discussions on practical matters are expected to intensify.

According to the police on the 21st, the National Police Agency will hold a meeting of the "Presidential Office Relocation Preparation Security Measures Committee," chaired by Deputy Commissioner Jin Gyo-hoon, possibly as early as this week. The Security Bureau will take charge of overall practical management and preside over the meeting. This committee meeting is the first since President-elect Yoon announced the relocation plan. The day before, Yoon officially confirmed the policy to move the presidential office to the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan. Earlier, on the 11th, the committee held a meeting analyzing the president-elect's campaign promises and established the "Presidential Office Relocation Preparation Security Measures Committee." At that time, key practical matters such as security and public order management for the presidential office relocation were reviewed.

The committee is primarily reviewing security for the presidential office and related facilities. Previously, the 101st and 202nd units provided three layers of security at the Blue House. The first line guarded the president directly, the second line protected the Blue House buildings, and the third line monitored the outer perimeter. Police sources indicate that changes in the deployment of these security units are inevitable after the move to Yongsan. Previously, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency was positioned to guard the alleys leading into the Blue House, but the layout in Yongsan is entirely different. So far, it is known that the 101st and 202nd units of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will continue their security roles, but a personnel redeployment plan is necessary due to the changed security terrain.

Traffic system adjustments are also a concern for the committee. When the president commutes or has external schedules, traffic around the area must be controlled without causing inconvenience to citizens. The committee views the Noksapyeong area as a key management zone for traffic control. Noksapyeong connects to Hannam Bridge, Banpo Bridge, and Namsan Tunnel, and experiences considerable traffic volume, requiring comprehensive traffic management from all directions. However, the police believe that if President-elect Yoon chooses Hannam-dong as his residence, the distance to the office will be about 4 km, so traffic management should not pose significant problems.

How to designate assembly prohibition zones is another issue the committee must resolve. Large-scale assemblies in Yongsan can take place at the open space in front of the War Memorial, the Hangang-daero section from Namyeong-dong through Samgakji to Yongsan Station, and Noksapyeong-ro from Samgakji to Itaewon Station. The police consider the Samgakji area to be less burdensome for managing assemblies and protests compared to Gwanghwamun, with less inconvenience to citizens. However, since the Assembly and Demonstration Act does not specify how far assembly and protest restrictions can extend near the presidential office, detailed management plans will depend on how much assemblies and protests shift to the area in the future.

The relocation of the presidential office has been considered since the era of former President Kim Young-sam but was repeatedly thwarted due to security and protection issues. Given President-elect Yoon's strong determination to relocate, the police are actively preparing with feasibility in mind. A police official said, "If we change the paradigm of security and protection, it is not impossible."