President Moon and First Lady to Leave Cheongwadae on May 9
"Isn't It Something That Can Be Overlooked?" Harsh Criticism Also Raised
President Moon Jae-in and his wife plan to leave the Blue House on May 9, the day before President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's inauguration. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] As President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol decided to fully open the Blue House on his inauguration day, May 10, former President Moon Jae-in and his wife vacated the Blue House the day before. Since the Moon couple's residence is in the provinces, they are expected to spend a day somewhere in Seoul until the inauguration. Political circles are criticizing Yoon for causing this situation, pointing out a lack of courtesy toward the former president.
On the afternoon of the 18th, former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon appeared on CBS Radio's "Hanpan Seungbu" and commented on the timing of President Moon leaving the Blue House, saying, "Can't we offer some convenience to a departing president for at least one night?" and questioned, "Why can't it be at midnight on May 11?"
He continued, "I don't understand why there is such an obsession with the symbolic effect on May 10. The excessive fixation on symbolism makes me wonder if they got the date from the legal affairs team. Such talk is even circulating," adding, "I don't believe this, but it's just incomprehensible and inexplicable."
Criticism also arose that this treatment is too harsh on the predecessor. Democratic Party lawmaker Ko Min-jung wrote on Facebook on the 17th, "I feel the cruelty of President-elect Yoon. Former President Roh Moo-hyun also left for his inauguration ceremony in the morning after being seen off due to measures by President-elect Lee Myung-bak," and criticized, "That is the minimum decency expected of a reasonable person."
She added, "I don't know if politics has made people this cruel or if the true nature of a cruel person is only now being revealed."
On the 15th, Blue House spokesperson Park Kyung-mi announced in a written briefing that President Moon would vacate the Blue House on May 9. According to Park, the Moon couple plans to attend President-elect Yoon's inauguration on the 10th and then move to their residence in Yangsan, Gyeongnam. It is reported that the Moon couple will spend one day between the day before and the day of the inauguration at a hotel or another location in Seoul.
Earlier, President-elect Yoon's side had declared that the Blue House would be fully opened at midnight on May 10, the day of the inauguration. Considering this schedule, it seems the Moon couple intends to vacate the Blue House a day earlier.
Regarding this, Yoon's side stated that the timing of President Moon leaving the Blue House is not a matter to be discussed with the Presidential Transition Committee.
Baek Hyun-jin, spokesperson for President-elect Yoon, explained at a briefing on the 18th, "Leaving the Blue House by midnight on May 9 as a legal deadline is a matter for the president and the Blue House to discuss," adding, "It is not something to be consulted with the transition committee. I believe the Blue House has confirmed these matters."
Meanwhile, among past presidents, Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung, and Lee Myung-bak left the Blue House the day before their inauguration. However, they all had residences in Seoul.
On the other hand, former President Roh Moo-hyun, whose residence was in Bongha Village, Gimhae, far from Seoul, was able to vacate the Blue House on the morning of the successor president's inauguration day.
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