Recently, one of the most contentious issues in South Korea concerns President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, a former prosecutor general starting his term as the 20th president on May 10. The people have chosen a conservative candidate this time. Also, it turns out that many voters considered this election an "election of the unfavored." In fact, the two main candidates were so neck and neck in the polls that even political analysts could not predict the outcome. Now, President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is seeking to relocate the presidential office from the Blue House to the Ministry of Defense building in Yongsan. Relocating his office was one of his election promises.
What is the key reason for President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's rapid move before his new administration’s term even begins? According to the “Yongsan Vision” presented by the presidential transition committee, there are three main reasons for moving the presidential office to Yongsan.
The first reason Yoon cites, and most important one to him, is to break away from the imperial presidency. The imperial presidential system is a major problem for the current system, making political conflict more serious. The current political system of the Republic of Korea, which is not conducive to communication, compromise, or cooperation, lies in a presidential system that promotes a winner-takes-all principle. Previous presidents and administrations have failed to remedy this despite pledging to do so. Yoon's side argues that the reason for the relocation to Yongsan begins with a willingness not to continue this tradition any longer. They plan to leave the Blue House, which is secluded deep in northern Seoul, and move to Yongsan, in the center of Seoul, to start working closer to the public.
The second reason is to promote reforms, simplifying administration organization. The bloating of administrative organizations hinders the efficient distribution and use of national budgets. Also, it hinders work efficiency and decision-making. As the site is large, the number of employees residing at the Blue House is also great, approximately 1,200. Yoon Suk-yeol aims to reduce the number of people working in the presidential office by about 30 percent, making changes so that skilled staff can carry out presidential duties effectively. This is linked to the reorganization of the presidential office and Yoon’s pledge to reorganize the workforce across public service institutions.
The final reason is to improve the practicality of the presidential workspace. The area of the Blue House is about 8,476 square meters; it is a magnificent palace. Although the current president has set up a new office near the secretary’s office, internal communication is still onerous due to the distance between the official residence and the secretary’s office. Yoon explained that at the Yongsan site, the official residence and secretary's office will be nearby, making communication more efficient.
Yoon and the presidential transition committee are determined to relocate the presidential office to Yongsan. In a press release, the transition committee stated that it would disclose the budget needed for the relocation and that the president-elect's commitment to achieving this campaign pledge before the start of his term will result in people trusting the new administration. Yoon said, "If the current administration does not cooperate in the process of transferring power, we will start our term at the office of the current transition committee." Regarding criticism from 11 former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who oppose the relocation for national security reasons, he said, "There will be no security vacuum, and the relocation will be carried out in a way that the administration of state affairs will not be disrupted."
As Yoon is a political newcomer, many people are worried about his actions as the new president. For now, Yoon’s plan faces strong opposition, as evidenced by a petition objecting to the relocation posted on the Blue House website. In just three days since the petition was launched on March 17, it had gained more than 500,000 signatures, clearly demonstrating the public’s concerns. To make the relocation a success and to become a trusted president, the president-elect and his presidential transition committee have to approach this issue cautiously, focusing on persuading the public and listening to their concerns.