The Republic of Korea's president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol shows a bird's eye view of his planned relocation of the presidential office during a press conference at his transition team office in Seoul on March 20, 2022. (JUNG YEON-JE / POOL / AFP)
SEOUL – The Republic of Korea's cabinet approved nearly $30 million on Wednesday to help president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol move the presidential office and residence from the traditional Blue House, clearing the way for a plan initially criticized by the current administration as rushed and a threat to national security.
Yoon, breaking with tradition, plans to move the presidential office from the Blue House to the defense ministry compound, a step estimated to cost $40 million ultimately.
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Elected in a tight vote on March 9, the conservative Yoon has called the Blue House a symbol of an "imperial presidency" and said he wanted to make the move immediately after his inauguration on May 10.
Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said the decision was made to ensure a "smooth government transition without a security vacuum"
The administration of incumbent President Moon Jae-in, a liberal who was barred from running again by term limits, initially raised concerns about the plan to move the presidential office, requiring the relocation of the defense ministry in a matter of weeks. It said a rushed move could "create a security vacuum and confusion" at a time of tensions with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
But Moon later called on his cabinet to approve the needed funds, and on Wednesday the panel set aside 36 billion won ($29.5 million) in reserve government funds for the initial costs. Additional funding will be discussed later, the government said.
Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, who presided over the cabinet meeting, said the decision was made to ensure a "smooth government transition without a security vacuum".
The Blue House move has been met with mixed reactions in the ROK.
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In this photo taken with a mobile phone on March 10, 2017, policemen stand guard outside the presidential Blue House in Seoul, the Republic of Korea. (LIU YUN / XINHUA)
Residents and environmentalists protested Wednesday outside the current defense ministry compound, saying a rushed move could derail a project to establish a national park at a former US military base in the neighborhood, and cause traffic congestion, Yonhap news agency reported.
Yonhap also cited an unnamed official as saying the defense ministry had started preparations for its relocation to a nearby building.