President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, "Office to Yongsan"
Emphasizes Accessibility, Mentioning the U.S. White House
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jung] As President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol decides to move his office to the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan, Seoul, attention is turning to the locations and openness of presidential offices in major countries abroad. Yoon particularly emphasized the need for a workspace with enhanced accessibility for communication, highlighting that the U.S. White House, the British Prime Minister's office, and the German Federal Chancellor's residence are all located in city centers.
In fact, the U.S. White House is located in downtown Washington DC, the capital city, just a 2-minute walk from McPherson Square Station, a transfer station for three subway lines. Centered around the Executive Residence, which serves as the president's family quarters, the office space is divided into the West Wing, housing the president's office, vice president's office, and chief of staff's office, and the East Wing, which contains reception rooms and social spaces. It is also close to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Capitol, optimizing work efficiency.
The White House itself is surrounded by iron fences, allowing outsiders to look inside. The southern side of the building is also well-known as a site where various protest groups hold rallies.
What about contact between the U.S. president and the media? The White House grants one-day access passes to journalists without permanent credentials if they meet certain requirements, allowing them to attend White House briefings.
The White House press room and briefing room are located in a one-story building adjacent to the west side of the West Wing, where the president's office is, but journalists cannot enter the West Wing building itself. Another characteristic is that the U.S. president often holds impromptu press meetings on current issues without prior scheduling or coordination of questions.
The locations and operational methods of offices or residences of European leaders share many similarities. The British Prime Minister's office at 10 Downing Street is located on a major road in central London, between Trafalgar Square and Big Ben. The third floor houses the Prime Minister's residence, while the second and first floors contain the Cabinet room and chief of staff's office. Next door at number 11 is the Chancellor of the Exchequer's office and residence, and the two buildings are connected. Opposite is the Foreign Office, and nearby is St. James's Park. At number 9, in the opposite direction, is the office of the ruling party's parliamentary leader, about 300 meters from the Westminster Palace, the Parliament building.
The German Chancellor's office, the Federal Chancellery, is an eight-story building newly constructed in 2001 along the Spree River. The Chancellor's office and chief of staff's office are on the same floor, with staff offices and meeting rooms below. It is about 500 meters from the Bundestag (Federal Parliament). Protesters in Germany can approach right up to the Federal Chancellery.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who is seeking re-election next month, uses the ?lys?e Palace on Rue Saint-Honor? in the 8th arrondissement of central Paris as both his residence and office. The chief of staff's office and key aides' offices are all located on one floor. Pedestrian access in front of the ?lys?e Palace is freely allowed.
Additionally, the Japanese Prime Minister's residence houses the Prime Minister's office, Chief Cabinet Secretary's office, and secretaries' offices all on one floor. Surrounding the residence are ministries such as the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Diet building is a five-minute walk away.
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