[Viewpoint] Opening an Era of Dialogue and Compromise at the Blue House

The relocation process of the presidential office from Yongsan back to the Blue House is currently underway. President Lee Jaemyung is expected to move in around early January, once the renovation of the official residence is complete. After moving to Yongsan in May 2022, the presidential office is returning to the Blue House after three years and seven months. Observing this return to the Blue House era prompts some reflection.

First, from the perspective of communication with the public, the location of the presidential office is not of great importance. Several presidents have attempted to relocate the Blue House office, only to halt the process due to issues such as security and cost. Former Presidents Kim Youngsam, Kim Daejung, and Moon Jaein considered using the Government Complex in Gwanghwamun as their office but ultimately gave up. Former President Roh Moo-hyun pledged to move the administrative capital. Former President Yoon Sukyeol, during his presidential campaign, promised to relocate to Gwanghwamun but ultimately chose Yongsan. The justification for these attempts was to get closer to the people. Words like "lack of communication," "deep palace," and "door knob" became representative of the image of a president isolated behind the Blue House walls.

"I believe space shapes consciousness. Some criticize that the way of abandoning the imperial presidency is itself imperial, but without decisive action, it is difficult to escape from that imperial presidency." Former President Yoon responded this way when asked, as president-elect, whether he was pushing too hard for the Yongsan era. While previous presidents tried to end the Blue House era but failed for various reasons, he expressed his intention to push forward with strong determination. In this way, former President Yoon ended the Blue House era after 74 years and opened the Yongsan era. Contrary to his promise, however, former President Yoon sought to become an emperor himself. The emergency martial law measure, which brought anger and shame to many citizens, cemented his image as the worst president in terms of communication.

Whether the presidential office is in Yongsan, Gwanghwamun, or Sejong City, it is only a matter of how much determination and action the president shows. In this respect, it will be difficult for any future president to use excuses such as "the Blue House is too far from the people, making communication impossible" or "this place has bad energy." It is hoped that President Lee will clearly prove this point. I hope he will engage in more dialogue and communication than any previous president and pave the way for cooperative governance.

Since taking office, President Lee has shown both promise and cause for concern. Whether it is a cabinet meeting, a ministry work report, or a town hall meeting, most are broadcast live on TV whenever possible. In particular, by openly sharing the discussions between the president and ministers during cabinet meetings, he is strongly reinforcing the image of a "transparent government" and a "government that works." Despite these efforts, there are still concerns that personnel authority within the presidential office is concentrated in the hands of a particular individual. As in the past with the so-called "three gatekeepers," he must avoid being isolated among a small group of aides.

It is also problematic to excessively strip the judiciary of its power in the name of judicial reform, whether by the president or the legislature. This could go beyond correcting past wrongs and become a mistake that undermines the separation of powers, which is fundamental to democracy. It is dangerous to line up civil servants under the pretext of restoring discipline in public office. As the authority of the legislature has increased, the morale of administrative officials has long since plummeted. Furthermore, if the government pressures public officials by vowing to investigate everything done by the previous administration, it will break their remaining sense of pride. The president should also meet more frequently with opposition parties, including the People Power Party, and listen to dissenting opinions.

I believe the return to the Blue House is the result of President Lee's rational judgment that "location does not matter." Based on that judgment, I look forward to seeing a more transparent and inclusive president than ever before.