Yoon stays confined at Hannam-dong residence for third day... Likely to leave after mid-afternoon

No Senior Secretaries' Meeting Convened under Chief Secretary's Leadership

On the 4th, when the Constitutional Court sentenced former President Yoon Seok-yeol to dismissal, officials at the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, were lowering the Bonghwanggi flag. Photo by Yonhap News

Former President Yoon Seok-yeol is reported to be preparing to vacate the Hannam-dong residence on the 6th, the third day after his dismissal. The presidential office's senior secretaries' meeting, which had been convened every Sunday during Yoon's suspension period, is also said not to be held on this day.

Even on the third day since the Constitutional Court's dismissal decision, no significant activity has been observed at the Hannam-dong residence. With the personnel appointment for the security team responsible for protecting former President Yoon delayed, it is believed that the vacating of the residence will likely occur sometime after midweek.

Previously, after the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye was upheld on March 10, 2017, she left the Blue House residence after sunset two days later on the 12th and moved to her private residence in Samseong-dong. It is expected that former President Yoon will follow a similar path.

The Presidential Security Service initially considered establishing a third location for security since Yoon's Seocho-dong residence is a mixed-use complex, making it difficult to install a security building, and nearby residents might experience inconvenience. However, since a separate security facility would need to be constructed at a third location, it is understood that the Seocho-dong residence is currently considered more suitable.

After his inauguration in May 2022, former President Yoon commuted to and from the Seocho-dong residence for about six months while receiving security from the Presidential Security Service until the Hannam-dong residence was prepared. Given this precedent, it is expected that it will not take long to establish a security plan.

However, the possibility of seeking another location cannot be ruled out due to the many pets raised by former President Yoon and his spouse. According to the Act on the Treatment of Former Presidents, security and protection for former presidents are maintained even if a president is impeached and leaves office during their term.

The presidential office has not issued an official statement regarding former President Yoon's dismissal on the third day after the impeachment ruling. The senior secretaries' meeting, usually held every Sunday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Jeong Jin-seok, is also reported not to be held on this day.

Following the dismissal decision, subsequent measures are underway. The presidential office website, which promoted the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's policies, was suspended the day before. When accessing the website, only the message "Service is under maintenance" can be seen.

Former President Yoon's social media (SNS) accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and X have also changed the phrase from "President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Seok-yeol" to "20th President Yoon Seok-yeol" starting the day before.