Should Korea’s presidential office stay in Yongsan?

A view of the current presidential office located in central Seoul's Yongsan District / Yonhap

With the early presidential election now set for June 3, public attention is shifting to where the next president will set up office.

While keeping the current office in Yongsan remains an option, alternative sites such as Cheong Wa Dae, Gwanghwamun and Sejong City are also being considered.

The simplest and most feasible option for the next president’s office is to retain the current location at the Ministry of National Defense compound in Yongsan District.

This proposal is driven largely by practical concerns over the lack of feasible time to relocate. Given the nature of the snap election, the next president is expected to begin duties as early as June 4, making Yongsan the most realistic option.

Financial considerations also play a key role in favoring this option. According to the National Assembly Budget Office, the relocation of the presidential office under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration cost an estimated 83.2 billion won ($57 million). Keeping the office in its current location would avoid additional relocation expenses and save taxpayers' money.

However, the negative connotations linked to the impeached president, along with the lingering shadow of the Dec. 3 martial law declaration at the former Ministry of National Defense building, have fueled growing calls to relocate the office from Yongsan.

“Regardless of which party wins the presidential election, most citizens would not agree that the presidential office should remain in Yongsan as a long-term and permanent location,” Rep. Kim Min-seok, a four-term lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said in a recent interview with a local media outlet.

Traffic disruptions caused by the president’s daily commute between the office and the presidential residence — especially along some of Seoul’s busiest streets during peak hours — have further fueled support for moving the presidential office to a different site.

Visitors tour Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential office and residence, in central Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Aside from retaining the current presidential office in Yongsan, the most realistic alternative under consideration is a return to Cheong Wa Dae — the historic seat of the Korean presidency for over 70 years.

Renowned for its symbolic and historical significance, Cheong Wa Dae is seen as a legitimate and meaningful choice, which also offers the practical advantages of ample space and well-established facilities.

However, concerns have been raised about potential security vulnerabilities, given that the site has been open to the public for over two years. Still, many argue that since not all areas are accessible to visitors, and with proper renovations and interior upgrades, any security issues could be effectively resolved.

Public sentiment also appears to favor a return to Cheong Wa Dae. Many visitors view current tours as potentially their last chance to see the site, fueling a surge in tours since the impeachment ruling.

“While average daily visitors to Cheong Wa Dae stood at around 3,000 previously, the number more than tripled after the impeachment decision,” said an official from the Cheong Wa Dae Foundation under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Tourists look at the desk set up in the main presidential office room at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

The third option is establishing a presidential office in the Gwanghwamun area of Seoul — a campaign pledge made by both former presidents Moon Jae-in and Yoon Suk Yeol.

Moving the presidential office from the closed-off Cheong Wa Dae to Government Complex Seoul in the Gwanghwamun neighborhood remains a valid option. Many citizens continue to support the idea, seeing it as a step toward a more accessible, hands-on presidency and improved communication with government ministries.

However, this plan was never realized by either president. While the Gwanghwamun option offers advantages such as closer coordination with other government departments, its location in a densely populated urban area surrounded by high-rise buildings poses significant security and protection challenges, ultimately preventing it from becoming a reality.

In Yoon’s case, although he initially pledged to relocate the office to Gwanghwamun, he changed course just 10 days after being elected. On May 10, 2022 — his inauguration day — he began his term by commuting to a new office set up at the defense ministry building in Yongsan.

Foreign tourists take photos at fountains in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, March 31. Yonhap

Regardless of its feasibility, the most frequently discussed issue currently is the presidential office's relocation to Sejong City.

Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Dong-yeon and former South Gyeongsang Gov. Kim Kyung-soo are actively supporting a move to Sejong City, while Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the DPK's main contender for the presidential race, also pledged during the last presidential election to establish a presidential office there. Other lawmakers, including Rep. Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, have also expressed support.

The proposal to relocate the administrative capital also carries considerable weight in influencing voter sentiment in the central Chungcheong provinces. Although the idea of establishing a presidential office in Sejong is an attractive campaign pledge, making it a reality is a lengthy and complicated undertaking.

In 2004, the Constitutional Court ruled that Seoul’s status as the capital is part of South Korea’s "customary constitution."

At that time, the country's top court stated that key state institutions, such as the National Assembly, Cheong Wa Dae, executive ministries the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court, must be located in the capital. The court noted the presence of the National Assembly and the presidential office to be decisive factors in determining the capital.

As a result, relocating the presidential office would require constitutional amendments and other legal procedures.