Tak Hyun-min, "The Closure of Cheong Wa Dae Will Come at a Cost" Sharp Criticism

"Claims that the Opening of Cheongwadae Failed in Terms of Procedure, Process, and Expected Effects"

'Cheongwadae and Fashion!' photo shoot collaborated by Vogue Korea and the Cultural Heritage Administration./Vogue Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Former Blue House Protocol Secretary Tak Hyunmin sharply criticized the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's opening of the Blue House as "a decision that failed in terms of procedure, process, and expected effects." He said that the hasty opening of the Blue House severed the history known as the 'Presidential History' of the Republic of Korea and lowered the nation's dignity.

In a post on Facebook on the 22nd, former Secretary Tak stated, "What is clear is that President Yoon did not simply relocate the office," and argued, "He 'closed' the Blue House, an important symbolic space in the history of the Republic of Korea, without the consent of the majority of the people."

He continued, "It was not just closed, but the space was packaged under the guise of opening, thereby historically severing it," and criticized, "No one granted such authority. It is a self-inflicted wound, but what is truly upsetting is that this self-inflicted wound translates into national dignity and the shame of many citizens."

He explained, "Some people distort the facts by saying this was also desired during the Moon Jae-in administration, but the Moon administration's plan to relocate the Blue House was reviewed and eventually scrapped, and from the beginning, the plan focused on moving or dualizing only the presidential office, not closing the Blue House."

He added, "I predicted that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration would face continuous and cascading difficulties due to the closure of the Blue House," pointing out, "Problems have already arisen in all aspects including protocol, security, communication, work continuity, and crisis response."

/ Facebook of Tak Hyun-min, former Blue House Protocol Secretary.

Former Secretary Tak warned, "The hastily organized opening event, poor management failing to properly handle even a single piece of trash from visitors, controversy over the restoration of the Governor-General's residence model, and immature utilization plans such as commercial advertisement filming will only solidify negative public opinion," and said, "The closure of the Blue House will be a symbolic event not only at the start of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration but also after it ends, and the price must be paid."

Former Secretary Tak compared the government's opening of the Blue House to Japan turning Changgyeonggung into a zoo (Changgyeongwon) during the Japanese colonial era, saying, "The reason Japan turned Changgyeonggung into Changgyeongwon was to provide entertainment to the colonized people while undermining the authority of the Korean Empire and gaining favor for the new power, Japanese imperialism. What then is the reason for the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's closure of the Blue House?"

In conclusion, former Secretary Tak lamented, "The Blue House of the Republic of Korea is a space of both glory and disgrace, and from the Joseon Dynasty to the present, it has been a symbol of the highest power, either partially or entirely," adding, "Not all eras were beautiful, of course. But that too is history. It is sad but we will continuously witness how political power without historical awareness and humanistic literacy can degrade the nation's dignity."

Meanwhile, the fashion magazine Vogue Korea attracted attention by releasing a photo shoot set against the Blue House on the same day. It is known that this photo shoot was a collaboration between the Cultural Heritage Administration and Vogue Korea. The photo shoot featured fashion models posing at the Blue House Main Building, Yeongbingwan, Sangchunjae, and Nokjiwon.

In an interview with TBS Radio's "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory" on the 24th, former Secretary Tak said, "I think model Han Hye-jin, who took the photo shoot, did nothing wrong. I also think Vogue Korea has the right to do a photo shoot. It is the government's immaturity that keeps harming the reputations of artists or groups."