Talk of presidential office relocation surfaces with prospect of Yoon's early exit

A panoramic view of the Central Administrative Town in Sejong City (Sejong City)
A panoramic view of the Central Administrative Town in Sejong City (Sejong City)

Suspended and now arrested President Yoon Suk Yeol’s dramatic rise and fall has had an unexpected major consequence in one area: the location of the presidential office and residence.

Yoon controversially moved the presidential office and residence from its historical home for 74 years, Cheong Wa Dae, behind Joseon-era Gyungbokgung, to two different locations in the middle of Yongsan-gu, downtown Seoul. Now, with the likelihood of his early departure growing, talk has surfaced about what will happen to the location of the top office.

The discussions have centered on whether to return the office and residence to Cheong Wa Dae, which every South Korean president except Yoon had used, or move it to Sejong City some 120 kilometers south of Seoul, which was built in 2012 to serve as the nation’s administrative capital.

Supporters of Sejong City, located between South and North Chungcheong Province, argue that the city could serve as a logical new site for the presidential office and residence, as it is already home to 10 central government ministries.

Sejong, which has the administrative status of special self-governing city, was initially conceived by late President Roh Moo-hyun as the country’s new capital, as part of his vision to address Seoul’s overcrowding and promote balanced development between Seoul and the provinces. Although its role was reduced to an "administrative capital" rather than the nation’s capital, the city currently houses 10 ministries and six government agencies.

Advocates point out that 2.1 million square meters of land in Sejong have already been earmarked for a second presidential office and residence, as well as a branch of the National Assembly. Plans for both facilities are already in motion, with completion targeted for 2027 and 2031, respectively.

Yoon's relocation of the presidential office and residence to two sites in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, was not well received by the public or politicians.

Refusing to spend a single day at Cheong Wa Dae, Yoon began his presidency still living in his private apartment in Seocho-gu for six months before moving to the former foreign minister's residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu.

Yoon had claimed Cheong Wa Dae was “a symbol of imperial power.” The move was highly controversial and costly, with many considering it rushed and unreasonable. Some even speculate that shamanistic influences may have played a role in the decision.

Even before the leader's downfall, sparked by Yoon's own ill-fated gambit of declaring martial law on Dec. 3, calls were growing that the next president should return to Cheong Wa Dae.

Senior ruling People Power Party politician and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo said in an interview with a local media outlet in December that Cheong Wa Dae is a symbol of South Korea, akin to the White House in the United States. "By relocating that symbol, the president’s charisma was undermined from the very start of his administration, leading to him being looked down upon by the opposition. Regardless of who becomes the next president, the office will return to Cheong Wa Dae,” said the conservative politician.

Yoon is currently in custody and under investigation for allegations of leading an insurrection and committing abuse of power, while also standing trial to confirm his impeachment.

In a press conference last week, Rep. Kang Joon-hyun of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, representing a constituency in Sejong, said he would propose a bill to prepare the city to accomodate the presidential office and residence.

“The presidential office (if built in Sejong) should be on the same level as Cheong Wa Dae, not just a second branch office. The construction should be done on the premise of the complete relocation of the office,” he said.

Sejong Mayor Choi Min-ho echoed this sentiment, going further to argue for the relocation of both the National Assembly and the presidential office and residence to his city. “When all the functions of the National Assembly relocate, it can reduce the inefficiencies of partial moves. Whether it’s the Assembly or the presidential office, full relocation should be considered through a constitutional amendment,” Choi said during a National Assembly debate on relocating the parliament to Sejong City last Friday.

During the discussion, Democratic Party Rep. Kim Young-bae, co-chair of the National Assembly’s Balanced Regional Development Forum, said, “If the National Assembly is relocated, the presidential office should naturally be in the same location.”

“The 45 bipartisan members of the National Assembly’s Balanced Regional Development Forum, including lawmakers from Seoul and the metropolitan area, will take the lead in this effort,” Kim said.