Yoon to Vacate Hannam-dong Residence Today... Will He Engage in Private Residence Politics?

Moving Seven Days After Constitutional Court's Dismissal
Considering a Public Message Announcement

The view of Acrovista in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where former President Yoon Suk-yeol's private residence is located. Photo by Yonhap News

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol will leave the Hannam-dong residence at 5 p.m. on the 11th and move to his private home. Yoon's departure from the residence comes seven days after the Constitutional Court's dismissal decision and 886 days after moving from the Seocho-dong private home to the residence on November 7, 2022.

A presidential office official said, "Former President Yoon will leave the residence at 5 p.m. today and move to his private home," adding, "Senior aides from the presidential office will visit the residence to see him off." Some of the moving belongings have already been transferred to the Seocho-dong private home, and repairs and maintenance of the house have been completed.

As he leaves the residence, former President Yoon is considering delivering a message to the public. Methods such as a thank-you message to his supporters and a hand wave before moving to the private home are being discussed. Previously, former President Park Geun-hye left the Blue House 56 hours after her impeachment ruling and moved to her private home in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, waving to supporters from inside the car.

Under the "Act on the Protection of the President, etc.," former President Yoon can receive security protection from the Presidential Security Service for up to 10 years. It is reported that the Presidential Security Service has formed a security team of about 40 members for his private home.

After his inauguration in May 2022, former President Yoon commuted to and from the Seocho-dong private home for about six months while receiving protection from the Presidential Security Service until the Hannam-dong residence was prepared.

However, since the Seocho-dong private home is a mixed-use apartment complex, there may be inconveniences for neighbors and concerns about gatherings and protests. Therefore, there is also speculation that after moving to the private home, he might relocate again to a detached house in the metropolitan area. This is because the former president and his wife have 11 pets, including dogs and cats, requiring a spacious area. Former President Park also stayed at her Samseong-dong private home after dismissal before moving to Naegok-dong a month later.

There is also interest in whether former President Yoon will continue private home politics after leaving the residence. Since the dismissal decision, he has been sending messages to his supporters from the residence, trying to appease his hardline supporters. Jeon Han-gil, a Korean history instructor who publicly supported Yoon's declaration of martial law, met with him at the residence on the 9th. At this meeting, Yoon reportedly said, "I don't care if I go to prison or die, but what about our people, what about the younger generation?" However, with accountability debates over martial law and impeachment emerging, it is uncertain how long Yoon's influence will last.

Meanwhile, former President Yoon will face a formal criminal trial related to charges of insurrection starting on the 14th. Additionally, there is a possibility of summons from investigative agencies regarding other cases. The Presidential Security Service has requested the court to allow Yoon to enter through the underground parking lot when attending the criminal trial on the 14th.