Will Cheong Wa Dae return to its role at the center of politics?
Visitors take pictures in front of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
On a regular weekday, a long queue formed in front of Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul with people eager to take a glimpse around the historic building that served the past 12 presidents of Korea.
"I rushed here to see Cheong Wa Dae before it closes to the public," said Kim Byung-taek, 65, who was seen taking a photo in front of the main building with his family on Monday.
Cheong Wa Dae, which opened to the public in May 2022, was teeming with people who shared Kim's hopes of witnessing the historic site for what may be the last time before it returns to its role at the center of politics.
The museum received 427,780 visitors in May alone, more than twofold the number of visitors in the same period last year, according to the Cheong Wa Dae Foundation.
The iconic building served as the official residence and executive office of the country's presidents for over 70 years, with its history dating back to 1948, when the government of the Republic of Korea was first established.
It first opened its doors to visitors after former President Yoon Suk Yeol decided to relocate the presidential office and residence to what used to be the defense ministry compound and foreign minister's residence, respectively.
Yoon pushed for the relocation of the presidential office under the pretext of "dismantling the remnants of the imperial presidency" embedded in Cheong Wa Dae, and to improve "open communication with the people."
He claimed as president-elect that the relocation would cost about 49.6 billion won ($35.9 million), including 11.8 billion won for moving the defense ministry.
However, data from the National Assembly Budget Office suggested the relocation of the presidential office, residence and building used by the Joint Chiefs of Staff combined cost about 325 billion won as of 2024, nearly 6.6 times the proposed amount.
The Board of Audit and Inspection also found legal violations in the relocation and repair process, including an interior design company suspected of having ties to former first lady Kim Keon Hee, which oversaw the renovation of the presidential residence in central Seoul.
Other scandals, including the alleged involvement of a fortune teller in choosing the location for the presidential office, though he was later found to be a feng shui expert, tainted the relocation efforts under the Yoon administration.
This photo shows the landscape of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, April 15. Yonhap
Some experts have ruled out permanently using the presidential office in Yongsan in the incoming administration, citing not just its symbolic ties to the impeached Yoon Suk Yeol government, but also due to its closeness to a former U.S. military base, and the unrealized costs of fully relocating there.
"It was a ridiculous decision to move to Yongsan in the first place," said Ahn Chang-mo, a professor of architecture at Seoul's Gyeonggi University. "Who can explain the decision to put the presidential office on the hills of Yongsan, where it's open for outsiders to look in?" he remarked, citing the invasion of five drones into Korean airspace in 2022, and allegations that U.S. intelligence services wiretapped the presidential office in 2023.
Professor Kim Young-ook, who also teaches architecture at Sejong University, said Yongsan is inadequate to house the president's office, given its historic roots as a Japanese army base during Japan's colonial rule of Korea from 1910-45, and its use as a U.S. military base following the 1950-53 Korean War.
Besides, it would cost nearly 10 times the amount required for renovating Cheong Wa Dae to continue using the space in Yongsan, Kim said, noting the successive relocation of the defense ministry and its affiliated agencies, including the building used by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has not yet been completed.
With the inauguration of President Lee Jae-myung, attention is now shifting to whether he will move into Cheong Wa Dae and if so, when.
On the campaign trail, Lee had stated an intent to revamp Cheong Wa Dae and relocate there "as soon as possible" but will temporarily use the Yongsan presidential office for the time being.
"Cheong Wa Dae is the best. It is very old, symbolic, and the most ideal location," Lee said on a cable TV station's YouTube channel last month.
Experts agree for the most part that returning to Cheong Wa Dae is the most realistic and viable option for the incoming administration, which took office immediately without the typical two-month transition period.
"In terms of historical continuity, I think Cheong Wa Dae is the optimal choice, as it has served as the presidential office for past presidents, and because no other place is as furnished and ready (for immediate use)," professor Kim said.
Kim dismissed security concerns raised about Cheong Wa Dae, saying only limited parts of it have been exposed to the public. He advised to keep the presidential office and residence open for public visits and to use the Yeomingwan Hall instead.
"Former Presidents Moon Jae-in and Lee Myung-bak used to work at Yeomingwan often," Kim said, adding "It's a small space for sure, but it's suited for immediate use with minimal renovation costs, and the space can be expanded later."
President Lee Jae-myung, left and first lady Kim Hye-kyung waves to the citizens after his inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
Although Cheong Wa Dae has dominated the debate, some people have argued for relocating the presidential office to the central city of Sejong, some 110 kilometers south of Seoul.
It was also part of President Lee Jae-myung's campaign pledges to make Sejong the "administrative capital" by building Sejong branches of the National Assembly and the presidential office by 2030, before fully relocating them to the city under public consensus.
However, experts say the plan should be approached as a long-term vision, noting it likely won't be feasible during Lee's term.
"The task still remains whether to amend the Constitution (to make Sejong the administrative capital), or to do it through a public referendum," professor Ahn said.
Professor Kim said relocating major political institutions like the presidential office to Sejong would take a "minimum of five years" given the time needed to build a space that could accommodate hundreds of presidential aides.
"It will take at least five years to proceed with the construction of the presidential office, which generally requires many steps, including design bidding, design development and construction," professor Kim said.
Reflecting the anticipation surrounding Cheong Wa Dae, the reservation system to tour the compound was already fully booked from Friday through Sunday.
Kim, who asked to be identified only by her surname, who was seen looking around Cheong Wa Dae with her husband on Monday afternoon, said she wanted to "entrust all authority" to the incoming president, including the location of the presidential office.
"Just not Yongsan," Kim said in a firm tone. "Inheriting such a problematic location from the previous government ... it just doesn't seem right," she added.