[Reporter’s Notebook] President-elect Yoon Fails to Present a 'Roadmap' for Relocating the Presidential Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The image of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol standing before reporters with a bird's-eye view and a pointer just 12 days after his election was striking. It was read as an expression of his strong will to vigorously implement the campaign promise of 'relocating the presidential office.'

However, there was a deep sense of regret upon reviewing the announcement. In the rush to move quickly, the details were loose. There was no concrete explanation on how to prepare replacement locations for existing facilities such as the presidential residence where the president will live, the guesthouse for foreign dignitaries, Yeomin-gwan for secretaries, and Sangchunjae for receiving foreign guests. With less than two months left until the move, he was unable to provide proper answers to questions about specific implementation plans.

Even looking at the site visits, the decision was made in a flash, like roasting beans over a lightning fire. The day before the announcement, President-elect Yoon visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Gwanghwamun and the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan. He personally inspected them just one day after the transition committee's visit, and the sudden decision was made the next day. Despite this being a significant decision to change the presidential office space for the first time since the establishment of the government, there was no public opinion gathering process or public hearing in the meantime. Within the party, there were disappointed voices saying, "Shouldn't they have at least listened to the elders once?"

President-elect Yoon's remark, "Once you enter the Blue House, you probably can't come out," also makes sense. However, the urgent desire to complete the relocation simultaneously with the inauguration on May 10 could instead act as a boomerang throughout the transition period. Unexpected problems may arise during the relocation process, which could become a burden for the president-elect.

Above all, communication by a leader in a representative democracy is an unavoidable fate. Especially since the president-elect won by a narrow margin of about 240,000 votes. This means he must consider the non-supporters nearly equal in number to those who voted in favor. The post-election situation of a ruling party with a minority in the legislature must be taken into account. There remains a regret that a more cautious approach should have been shown before making the decision.