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| The Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan District, Seoul / Yonhap |
By Kang Seung-woo
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol may work out of either the foreign ministry building in Seoul's Jongno District or the defense ministry building in Yongsan District after taking office in May.
According to his taskforce working on relocating the presidential office of the Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday, the two ministry buildings have been emerging as the top possibilities for housing the new president's office.
Relocating the presidential office to Gwanghwamun in central Seoul was one of Yoon's election pledges, and following his election, his camp has been looking into the task of moving from the current building in Samcheong-dong. The Seoul Government Complex in Gwanghwamun, home to several government organizations, had been cited as the most likely site. However, it has been excluded due to security reasons.
"Both ministry buildings are candidates and the site will be decided after comprehensive consideration of the importance of close and daily encounters with the people and presidential security," a taskforce official said.
The foreign ministry building, located next to the government complex, is occupied solely by the ministry, while the defense ministry sits near U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan.
In particular, the Ministry of National Defense is removed from its surroundings and has no high-rise buildings, which could ease security problems. In addition, an underground bunker within the building could be used in case of emergency.
However, even if Yoon moves into the defense ministry building, the organization will not move out thanks to the remaining space available there, according to the taskforce.
The relocation of the presidential office is expected to be finalized as early as this week.
President Moon Jae-in had earlier pledged to relocate the presidential office to the government complex five years ago, but the plan was ultimately withdrawn in 2019 due to the lack of space for presidential security staff, military and police officers required in the proposed building.
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