Hundreds Gather at President Moon's Private Residence Village... 'No Entry' Signs Posted

A citizen who visited President Moon Jae-in's private residence is looking at the facility.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jucheol In] The Pyeongsan Village, where President Moon Jae-in's residence will be located after his retirement, has already seen a noticeable increase in visitors from outside the area.

President Moon will move to his residence in Pyeongsan Village after the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol on May 10.

Although his retirement is still about two weeks away, news that the residence will be completed and the moving-in will take place around mid to late this month has attracted tourists and supporters from all over the country.

Pyeongsan Village is located right next to Tongdosa, one of Korea's three major temples and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, with about 45 households and around 100 residents.

Behind the village is Yeongchuksan (Yeongchuisan), a 1,081-meter-high mountain in the 'Yeongnam Alps' (a high mountain area over 1,000 meters spanning Miryang-si and Yangsan-si in Gyeongnam Province and Ulsan City).

In front of the village is Tongdo Fantasia, a theme park representing Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, currently temporarily closed, along with several cafes, tea houses, and restaurants operating in the area.

While there have been some visitors from outside before, the number of outsiders visiting has noticeably increased as President Moon's retirement approaches.

Even on weekdays, hundreds of visitors from outside come by car to Pyeongsan Village, taking photos of the residence with their smartphones or taking commemorative photos in front of the residence before leaving.

The residents of Pyeongsan Village are not very welcoming of the influx of outsiders.

A resident of Pyeongsan Village said, "Already, external vehicles and people coming and going have made the village chaotic," adding, "Won't it get worse starting next month?"

A banner prohibiting parking of external vehicles is posted on the bench in front of the community center where President Moon Jae-in's private residence is located. [Image source=Yonhap News]

As the number of vehicles brought by outsiders increased, Yangsan City put up banners along the roadside where village buses pass, warning against illegal parking, and started cracking down on illegal parking.

Signs saying "No Entry to Side Roads" and "No Parking for External Vehicles" have been erected at the entrance to the village road, in front of the Pyeongsan Village senior center, and the village hall plaza, though it is unclear since when.