President starts official work at Cheong Wa Dae

President Lee Jae Myung arrives at the main building of Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Monday, marking his first official day of work at the venue following the completion of the presidential office relocation. Joint Press Corps

President Lee Jae Myung officially began his duties at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, restoring the historic complex as the presidential office for the first time in 1,330 days, since former President Moon Jae-in left office on May 9, 2022.

The move, coming more than six months into Lee’s administration, signals a decisive end to the turbulent “Yongsan era” — marked by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration and subsequent impeachment — and the start of a renewed “Cheong Wa Dae era.”

After departing his official residence in Hannam-dong, Lee arrived at Cheong Wa Dae at around 9:12 a.m., entering through its main gate in a presidential vehicle as dozens of supporters across the street waved national flags and chanted slogans to welcome the president on his first day commuting to the historic site.

Security guards at Cheong Wa Dae open the gate for President Lee Jae Myung’s motorcade as he arrives for work at the venue in Seoul, Monday. Joint Press Corps

After arriving at the main building, the president stepped out of his vehicle wearing a black coat and a necktie woven with red, blue and white — a color combination widely interpreted as symbolizing unity, with red and blue traditionally associated with conservative and progressive politics, respectively.

To mark Lee’s first day commuting to Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office released rare images of his regular morning tea meeting with senior aides. Since the start of his administration in early June, Lee has held the 9:15 a.m. daily meeting to review state affairs, policy priorities and pressing issues.

Eighteen senior officials attended Monday’s meeting, including National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom and senior secretary for political affairs Woo Sang-ho, among others.

Following the meeting, Lee visited Cheong Wa Dae’s underground bunker, where he inspected the nation’s security readiness and emergency response posture.

President Lee Jae Myung holds a morning tea session with his presidential aides at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said during Monday’s press briefing that President Lee’s decision to use the Yeomin Building as his primary working office alongside senior secretaries and staff, rather than the Cheong Wa Dae main building, reflects "the Lee administration’s governing philosophy of transparency and its commitment to sharing the process of state affairs with the public."

Kang added that the arrangement is intended to enhance internal coordination.

"Housing the three senior chiefs in the same building allows for closer communication with working-level staff and supports faster, more dynamic decision-making and debate," she said.

Key meetings will be held at the Yeomin Building, underscoring the administration’s intent to institutionalize open communication, robust deliberation and streamlined decision-making across both routine and high-level meetings involving key senior chiefs.

Security guards raise the double phoenix flag at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Monday. The flag is a symbol of the head of state of South Korea, and is flown at the location of the president’s main office. Yonhap

Earlier, at midnight, the double phoenix flag — a symbol of the head of state’s principal office — was transferred from the former presidential office located in Yongsan district to Cheong Wa Dae and hoisted there.

Meanwhile, the government said it will seek to minimize restrictions on the public and keep existing running and walking routes — including access to hiking trails — around Cheong Wa Dae open.