청 "Yoon's immediate use of Yongsan office after inauguration is 'excessive'"... People Power Party fiercely criticizes, citing obstruction

People Power Party "The Most Basic Security Is Presidential Protection, Delays in Blue House Relocation Prevent Receiving Protection"

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is holding a press conference on the relocation of the Blue House presidential office to the Yongsan Ministry of National Defense building at the press conference room of the Presidential Transition Committee set up in the annex of the Korea Financial Training Institute in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 20th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The defense committee members of the People Power Party claimed that President Moon Jae-in and the Democratic Party of Korea are obstructing President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's plan to relocate the presidential office to Yongsan. The Blue House had previously stated that relocating the Ministry of National Defense and establishing the presidential office before the new government takes office would be unreasonable, citing security concerns.

On the 21st, the People Power Party defense committee members issued a statement asserting, "The Moon Jae-in administration convened the NSC and refused to allocate the budget for relocating the presidential office, citing security gaps, thereby obstructing the normal launch of the new government." They argued, "There will be no security gap caused by moving the presidential office to the Ministry of National Defense building," adding, "Although there may be some inconvenience due to the Ministry of National Defense's relocation, the core department for maintaining military readiness is the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), which will not move and will continue to maintain the current readiness posture."

In particular, the People Power Party defense committee members emphasized, "The most fundamental aspect of national security is the personal protection of the president," and stated, "Delaying the relocation of the Blue House, which prevents the president from entering the office and receiving proper protection, is precisely what causes a security crisis for the Republic of Korea."

They further stated, "Mentioning a security gap where none exists at the current Blue House and obstructing the policies promoted by the new government can only be seen as refusal to accept the election results," urging, "Stop the obstruction."

Earlier, following the expanded National Security Council (NSC) meeting chaired by President Moon Jae-in, the Blue House said, "It seems unreasonable to relocate the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the presidential office, the secretariat, and the security office before the new government takes office," adding, "The sudden relocation of the unprepared Ministry of National Defense and JCS, as well as the Blue House Crisis Management Center, could cause security gaps and confusion."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park Soo-hyun, the Blue House Chief of Public Communication, said in a briefing, "Issues such as adjusting the defense system, including the no-fly zone centered around the Blue House, also need to be reviewed," adding, "Unless there is an urgent situation that requires rushing, it is logical to proceed with the relocation only when the Ministry of National Defense, JCS, and Blue House are all prepared."

The reason the Blue House opposes Yoon's 'Yongsan era' is due to concerns about security vulnerabilities. A Blue House official explained, "Security is usually most vulnerable during government transitions," adding, "Next month, North Korea's annual event (the Day of the Sun) is scheduled, and it is also the time for the annual joint exercises between South Korea and the U.S., so this period is a time of heightened security tension on the Korean Peninsula."