Cheong Wa Dae set to be restored as presidential office, ending 3 years in Yongsan

The presidential office's Yongsan era, a brief and controversial chapter launched by the previous administration, is set to conclude after just three years and seven months. The government of President Lee Jae Myung, fulfilling a central campaign promise, began the official relocation back to the historic Cheong Wa Dae compound earlier this month, with the full move expected to be complete around Christmas Day. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik confirmed the timing on Sunday, stating that environmental and technology upgrades at Cheong Wa Dae had finished last month. Soon after taking office in June, Lee allocated $17.6 million to finance the move. The relocation effort was driven by both symbolic and political motives. The incumbent president and the ruling Democratic Party (DPK) openly criticized the Yongsan complex as "politically toxic" by being linked to the previous leader's martial law declaration last December. Logistical inefficiencies were also cited: major state events still required the president to commute to Cheong Wa Dae’s State Guest House, which remained the kWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times