Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung made his first commute to work at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, following the formal relocation of the presidential office to the historic compound about seven months after he took office. A motorcade escorting Lee's vehicle passed through the front gate of the main building at around 9:10 a.m. as dozens of his supporters waved the national flag and shouted his name near the entrance to the compound.
According to Yonhap News Agency, at the main building, Lee held a tea meeting with senior aides to receive briefings on key pending issues and upcoming work plans, focusing on the economy and social affairs, as reported by presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. Lee then visited the National Crisis Management Center inside the complex, known as Cheong Wa Dae's underground bunker, to check systems related to security and disaster response. The center, first established in 1976, was equipped with chemical, biological, and radiological protection capabilities in 2003 and has since been refurbished as part of preparations for the return to Cheong Wa Dae.
Following the tour, Lee proceeded to the Yeomin Building complex, where he granted diplomatic consent, known as agrement, to the incoming ambassador from the Republic of Benin. Lee's main office is situated in the Yeomin building, about 500 meters from the main building that houses senior aides and staff, which is expected to facilitate closer communication with officials. The iconic main building with its blue roof will primarily be used for formal events, such as summits and credential ceremonies.
Lee's selection of the Yeomin Building, meaning "with the people" in Korean, as his workspace reflects the administration's commitment to maintaining a transparent and pragmatic government that communicates closely with the public, as mentioned by Kang. At midnight, a presidential flag bearing two phoenixes was raised, formally restoring the name Cheong Wa Dae.
Due to ongoing renovations to fix damage at the official residence from when the complex was opened to the public under the previous administration, Lee will continue commuting from his current residence in Hannam-dong for the time being, as per his office. Lee's predecessor, former ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, had relocated the office to the defense ministry compound in Seoul's Yongsan district when he assumed office in 2022.
On Sunday, the Presidential Security Service announced the completion of joint security inspections with 14 agencies, including the National Intelligence Service, the police, and the military. These checks covered key facilities at Cheong Wa Dae and nearby mountains, focusing on wiretapping risks and information and communications systems.