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South Korea Moves Presidential Office Back to the Blue House by Christmas

The move is pitched as a more accessible presidency through lighter street security.

Overview

  • Daily press briefings resumed inside the Blue House complex on Monday at Chunchugwan, marking the first briefings there since 2022.
  • Day-to-day work will be concentrated in the Yeomin Building to keep President Lee close to senior aides, with the Main Office used for summits and formal ceremonies.
  • The presidential residence remains in Hannam-dong during renovations, with a move to the Blue House planned next year and the date to be set.
  • The security service will end routine ID checks on five main access roads; public tours are suspended as limited access is reviewed, and the sidewalk along the outer wall is closed to pedestrians.
  • Officials will expand livestreaming and relocate the Yongsan “open studio” to the compound, reversing Yoon Suk Yeol’s 2022 shift that cost about $40 million and followed a period when more than 8 million people visited the opened site.