청 "Moving the Presidential Office Before the New Government Inauguration Is Unreasonable"
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is reviewing documents at the transition committee secretariat office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 22nd during the transition committee secretariat meeting. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid the Blue House expressing negative views on President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's pledge to relocate the presidential office to Yongsan, citing concerns such as security gaps, former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop pointed out on the 21st that "President Moon Jae-in needs to support the incoming government at the end of his term." Geum, who joined the People Power Party's Central Election Committee as the head of strategic planning during the last presidential election, made these remarks.
On the same day, Geum said on CBS Radio's 'Hanpan Seungbu' that "If the Moon Jae-in administration puts the brakes on the relocation of the presidential office, it will only increase conflicts."
He added, "Since the budget issue was prepared based on data from the existing government, it is appropriate for the current government to cooperate with the first initiative of the president-elect."
He also said, "If we look critically, both sides can be criticized," adding, "If you ask whether the new government should urgently prioritize this (relocation of the presidential office to Yongsan) as the first task, I view that point critically."
However, he pointed out, "(The Moon administration) should at least refrain from verbal criticism even if there are concerns or criticisms," and said, "If there are any worries, they should be handled privately so that the new government and President-elect Yoon can take the stance of 'After some consideration, it might be better to proceed a little later.'"
Furthermore, he said, "I hope President Moon will generously make many concessions for the new government. It's not that the Moon administration has done anything wrong, but we need to look to the future and act magnanimously," adding, "I hope the president-elect can express what he wants to do, and for things that are not feasible, his dignity is preserved while opening the way forward."
Earlier, the Blue House put the brakes on President-elect Yoon's plan to relocate the presidential office to Yongsan. Park Soo-hyun, the Blue House Senior Secretary for Public Communication, announced the results of the expanded National Security Council (NSC) ministerial meeting at the press briefing room, stating, "The plan to relocate the Ministry of National Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, presidential office, secretariat, and security office within a tight timeframe before the new government takes office seems unreasonable."
He continued, "The security crisis on the Korean Peninsula is escalating," explaining, "The sudden relocation of the unprepared Ministry of National Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with the Blue House Crisis Management Center, could cause security gaps and confusion."
In response, Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the president-elect, said in a statement in the afternoon, "It is regrettable," and added, "If President Moon refuses to cooperate on the most essential tasks of government transition, there is no way to enforce it." President-elect Yoon cannot forcibly relocate the Blue House before inauguration without President Moon's consent, who holds budget execution and government command authority.
She continued, "President-elect Yoon will immediately address urgent livelihood issues and national tasks from the start of the government at Tongui-dong," and stated, "As of midnight on May 10, President-elect Yoon will definitely fulfill his promise to fully open the Blue House."
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