South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to begin working at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, marking the formal relocation of the presidential office to the historic compound around seven months after he assumed office. The move was symbolically completed at midnight with the raising of the presidential flag, officially restoring the name Cheong Wa Dae.
On his first day, President Lee is scheduled to meet senior aides over tea at the main building in a session open to the media. He will also visit the National Crisis Management Center within the complex to assess military readiness and national security conditions.
Lee’s primary office will be located in the Yeomin Building complex, approximately 500 meters from the main building where senior staff are based. The arrangement is intended to encourage closer communication and smoother coordination with officials. The iconic blue-roofed main building will mainly host formal state functions, including summits and diplomatic ceremonies.
The relocation reverses a decision made by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who had moved the presidential office to the defense ministry compound in Seoul’s Yongsan district in 2022. Ahead of the move, security authorities completed extensive inspections of Cheong Wa Dae and surrounding areas, focusing on communications security and potential threats.