Each Secretariat Assigns 'Moving Manager'... Presidential Office Prepares for Blue House Return

Presidential Office Holds Briefing on Blue House Return on the 12th
Interior Remodeling of Blue House to Be Completed Within This Month
Bugaksan Hiking Trails to Reopen, Including the Southern Slope

On November 7, the autumn foliage around the Blue House, as seen from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul, has reached its peak. Reports indicate that the relocation of the Blue House to the Yongsan Presidential Office is imminent. November 7, 2025. Photo by Jo Yongjun

The Presidential Office has officially begun preparations for moving back to the Blue House within this year. Each secretariat has designated a person in charge of the move to sort out belongings, and will relocate according to the dates assigned based on the nature of their work. It has also been decided that the hiking trails on Bugaksan Mountain, located behind the Blue House, will be reopened.

According to the Presidential Office, the Office of Administrative Secretary, which oversees the Blue House relocation, held a briefing for internal staff on November 12, instructing each secretariat to appoint a person responsible for the move and to prepare for the return. The briefing also covered procedures and various security matters to be observed during the moving process. The relocation is expected to begin as early as the second week of next month.

During the briefing, there were requests to stagger moving dates according to the characteristics of each secretariat. For example, those who work closely with the President or handle security affairs asked for their moving dates to be coordinated so they could move together with the President. The Office of Administrative Secretary plans to accommodate these requests and adjust the moving schedule accordingly.

For Chunchugwan, which serves as both the workspace for the press corps and the center for media support, moving around the same time as the President is being considered. Although there was speculation that it would be among the first to relocate due to its location outside the main office and its lower security priority, the schedule will be coordinated in consideration of the press corps’ need to cover the President.

However, the Presidential Office will not disclose specific dates until just before the move, as revealing the Blue House return plans externally could create security gaps during the relocation process.

Blue House Remodeling to Be Completed This Month... Bugaksan Mountain to Reopen

It is reported that about 70% of the interior remodeling of the Blue House has been completed. An official from the Presidential Office stated, "The internal renovations are expected to be finished within November," but added, "Since safety and security inspections are conducted separately, if any issues arise, the completion could be delayed." The Yeomingwan, where the President and aides will work, underwent only minimal safety reinforcement and maintenance in order to save costs.

The hiking trails on Bugaksan Mountain, located behind the Blue House, will be reopened. Former President Moon Jae-in opened the northern slope of Bugaksan in November 2020 and the southern slope in April 2022. Currently, the northern slope is accessible, and the southern slope will be reopened to the same extent as during the Moon administration once the Blue House relocation and trail maintenance are completed. Although there were opinions that the southern trail should remain restricted for presidential security reasons, the decision was made to reopen it in line with the original intention of "returning Seoul's mountains to the citizens."

The relocation of the presidential residence is expected to take more time. Kang Hoonshik, Chief of Staff at the Presidential Office, stated during a National Assembly audit on November 6 that the move to the new residence should be expected by the first half of next year. Therefore, President Lee Jaemyung is likely to work at the Blue House starting at the end of the year, but will continue commuting from the Hannam-dong residence for the time being.

Meanwhile, Jongno Police Station in Seoul is reportedly considering switching nearby police substations back to 24-hour operations in line with the Blue House return. The 101st and 202nd Security Units of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, which are responsible for presidential security and guard duties, are also said to have begun their own relocation preparations.