South Korean President Lee Jae-myung is relocating the presidential office back to the traditional Blue House compound, leaving the defense ministry complex where his predecessor Yoon Suk-yeol had established his office. Lee’s office stated that the move is expected to be completed around Christmas. The presidential residence will not move immediately, as parts of the Blue House are currently being inspected for damage incurred during the previous administration, with further plans to be announced later, the office added on Monday.

Lee, who won a snap election in June, had promised during his campaign to eventually move the presidential office to Sejong City, south of Seoul, where several government ministries are based, in an effort to stimulate local economies outside the capital. The office did not comment on the future of the compound Lee is vacating.

Former President Yoon, removed from office in April after briefly declaring martial law, broke long-standing tradition by moving both his office and residence out of the Blue House. Shortly after taking office in 2022, Yoon relocated the presidential office to a cluster of former defense ministry buildings in central Seoul, spending roughly US$40 million (S$51.7 million) on the move despite security concerns.

The relocation sparked debates among feng shui experts, as some political opponents accused Yoon of being influenced by those who considered the Blue House location inauspicious. After Yoon’s departure, the Blue House was opened to the public, attracting more than 8 million visitors by mid-June. The Blue House, known as “Cheong Wa Dae” in Korean, gets its name from the blue tiles adorning the main building and is set against the scenic backdrop of Bugaksan Mountain.