SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung is expected to move into Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul soon, as renovations of the sprawling presidential compound are nearly complete.
Some staff have already moved in, with the presidential office's daily press briefings resuming there on Monday.
Lee's relocation from the current office in Yongsan to Cheong Wa Dae is expected to be completed as early as early as next week. Once moved in, he will have a shared workspace with top aides and key officials, including chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, policy chief Kim Yong-bum, and national security adviser Wi Sung-lac, to facilitate closer communication with them.
Repairs to the official residence are not finished, so Lee is expected to commute from the current residence in Hannam-dong for the time being.
Taking office in June this year, Lee vowed to return to the compound but delayed doing so while it underwent repairs needed after several years of public access since May 2022 with the inauguration of his predecessor President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law last year.
Lee has said the Yongsan office has a structure vulnerable to eavesdropping and security risks, making it unsuitable as a presidential workplace.
Lee may use Cheong Wa Dae until 2030 during his presidency, but he eventually intends to relocate the office to the administrative city of Sejong, where most ministerial offices and other government agencies have been moved since 2012 as part of efforts to promote balanced regional development.
Some staff have already moved in, with the presidential office's daily press briefings resuming there on Monday.
Lee's relocation from the current office in Yongsan to Cheong Wa Dae is expected to be completed as early as early as next week. Once moved in, he will have a shared workspace with top aides and key officials, including chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, policy chief Kim Yong-bum, and national security adviser Wi Sung-lac, to facilitate closer communication with them.
Repairs to the official residence are not finished, so Lee is expected to commute from the current residence in Hannam-dong for the time being.
Taking office in June this year, Lee vowed to return to the compound but delayed doing so while it underwent repairs needed after several years of public access since May 2022 with the inauguration of his predecessor President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law last year.
Lee has said the Yongsan office has a structure vulnerable to eavesdropping and security risks, making it unsuitable as a presidential workplace.
Lee may use Cheong Wa Dae until 2030 during his presidency, but he eventually intends to relocate the office to the administrative city of Sejong, where most ministerial offices and other government agencies have been moved since 2012 as part of efforts to promote balanced regional development.
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