President seeks to move presidential office back to Cheong Wa Dae this year

Presidential staff are working to move the presidential office back to Cheong Wa Dae this year, more than three and a half years after it was relocated to Yongsan District. Although restoration and refurnishing work at the compound may take time due to aging facilities and damage caused over the past three years, officials from the presidential office said on Friday that the return is expected to take place no later than the end of this year. Since his election campaign, Lee has repeatedly emphasized that the presidential office should be in Cheong Wa Dae, citing its long history, symbolic and cultural value and its superiority in terms of security. Former president Yoon Suk Yeol moved the presidential office in May 2022 from Cheong Wa Dae to what was previously the defense ministry building in Yongsan District, and opened Cheong Wa Dae to the public as a cultural and historical site. Public tours of the compound were suspended as of Aug. 1. Following Lee's pledge, the government has been carrying out extensive repair work on the compound, with the Cabinet approving 25.9 billion won ($18Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times