Lee to Move into Yongsan First, Then to Cheong Wa Dae
Renovations to Take 3-4 Months... Early End to the Yongsan Era
Attention on Whether Administrative Capital Will Be Completed Within Term
With the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration, the Presidential Office is expected to pursue a phased relocation from Yongsan to Cheong Wa Dae and then to Sejong. Initially, the administration will operate from the Yongsan Presidential Office, but is expected to move to Cheong Wa Dae as soon as renovation work there is completed. Ultimately, the plan is to complete the Sejong Presidential Office within the term and finalize the transition to an "administrative capital." However, as this requires social consensus, it remains uncertain whether it will be achieved.
On the 4th, the inauguration day of the 21st President Lee Jae-myung, the phoenix flag was raised at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
President Lee Jae-myung signaled early on that the "Yongsan era" would come to an end. At the Democratic Party's presidential primary debate on April 18, he stated, "For now, we should use Yongsan (Presidential Office), and then move quickly to Cheong Wa Dae after its renovation." While there were many opinions within and outside the Democratic Party that the President should move directly to Cheong Wa Dae, since Yongsan had become a symbol of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, practical concerns such as the need to fill the three-year vacancy with renovation work became obstacles.
Once renovation work at Cheong Wa Dae is completed, the Yongsan Presidential Office is expected to return to use by the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Although the site is relatively large and equipped with an underground bunker, there have been many criticisms that it is not suitable for the Presidential Office. The surrounding area has many old buildings and narrow roads, making it unsuitable for hosting foreign dignitaries, and there is a lack of buildings necessary for presidential duties. As a result, former President Yoon often had to shuttle between the Cheong Wa Dae State Guest House, Sangchunjae, and Nokjiwon when hosting foreign leaders.
In contrast, Cheong Wa Dae, having served as the Presidential Office for the longest period, is highly valued for its historical significance and symbolism, and is efficient as it houses both the President's office and living quarters. Unlike Yongsan, there are fewer traffic and security issues related to the President's commute. However, since the full opening of Cheong Wa Dae to the public in 2022, its internal facilities have been exposed, necessitating enhanced security and renovation work. Considering the relocation of the underground bunker and various facilities and equipment, the establishment of operational systems, and staff training, the process is expected to take several months.
Above all, Cheong Wa Dae was regarded as a "symbol of power" until the relocation by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Many major presidential contenders, including former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party, pledged to relocate the Presidential Office as a move toward "decentralization of authority." President Lee Jae-myung is also expected to accelerate the move to Sejong even after relocating to Cheong Wa Dae. He has also announced a pledge to build the National Assembly Sejong Building and the Sejong Presidential Office within his term.
The main issue is feasibility. Unlike Yongsan, Sejong is not in Seoul, so opinions are divided. Another obstacle is the Constitutional Court's 2004 ruling that the Special Act on the Construction of a New Administrative Capital under the Roh Moo-hyun administration was unconstitutional, stating that "Seoul is the capital under customary constitutional law." Some argue that, for President Lee to fulfill his pledge, a constitutional amendment explicitly designating Sejong as the capital or administrative capital must be completed. If this process is followed, it will be difficult to guarantee the relocation within his term.
The Democratic Party is expected to first pursue completion of the Sejong administrative capital through special legislation without constitutional amendment. Unlike 20 years ago, the Sejong Government Complex has been completed and public perception has changed significantly, so the Constitutional Court may not rule such special legislation unconstitutional again. Kim Kyung-soo, the Democratic Party's chief campaign manager, also declared before the election, "I am confident that the next Democratic government will complete the Sejong administrative capital."
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