Yoon's Push to Move Office to Yongsan... Democratic Party Calls It "Imperial Attitude," "Can't Understand the Pushy Approach"

Democratic Party: "Do Not Dismiss Concerns Over Office Relocation as Political Opposition"

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is reviewing documents at the transition committee secretariat office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 22nd during the transition committee secretariat meeting. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] The Democratic Party of Korea continues to criticize President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol's plan to relocate the presidential office to Yongsan.

On the 22nd, Shin Hyun-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, stated at a briefing at the National Assembly Communication Office, "The Yoon Seok-yeol transition team and the People Power Party are spewing harsh words, even resorting to rude remarks, regarding the relocation of the presidential office from the Blue House."

She added, "It is deeply regrettable that they are trying to shift the public's criticism and political burden caused by the hasty and uncommunicative relocation of the presidential office onto the Blue House with such reckless attacks," and directly criticized, "There is not a trace of responsible attitude expected from the ruling power that will lead the nation and take responsibility for the people's lives in 50 days."

She emphasized, "The Blue House's concerns that relocating the control tower of national administration and security within 50 days is difficult are perfectly natural," and urged, "Do not dismiss legitimate concerns about security gaps and administrative confusion caused by the presidential office relocation as mere political opposition."

Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Dong-geun also questioned on his Facebook post that day, "This is not a case of 'pacheon' (播遷, the king fleeing the capital to another place), so why is the presidential office relocation being rushed so hastily?"

Shin said, "President-elect Yoon says he will push for relocating the presidential office to Yongsan. Since the presidential office does not have to be in one place forever, opposing the relocation outright is not necessary," but pointed out, "However, since this is not a case of fleeing the capital, it is completely incomprehensible to push for the relocation so hastily while refusing to enter the Blue House unconditionally."

He continued, "They explain that the office is being moved to improve communication, but the attitude of pushing through such a huge event as relocating the presidential office without communication is truly incomprehensible."

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is pushing to relocate the presidential office to the Ministry of National Defense building. On the 22nd, the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Tae-nyeon pointed out that the power structure should be changed rather than the office itself. Through Facebook, Kim said, "President-elect Yoon is showing a monarchic attitude of 'only I am right' regarding the office relocation," and sharply criticized, "Changing the office building does not eliminate the monarchic presidential system."

He emphasized, "If you change the office to be like the White House in the U.S., does it become a U.S.-style presidential system? If you change it to be like the British Prime Minister's residence, does it become a parliamentary system? To overcome the drawbacks of the monarchic presidential system, changing the power structure should come first, not the building."

He also urged, "If President-elect Yoon truly intends to overcome the monarchic presidential system, I hope he does not insist only on relocating the office but presents a plan on how to change the power structure."

Earlier, on the 21st, the Blue House expressed opposition to President-elect Yoon's plan to relocate the presidential office to Yongsan, citing 'security crisis' as the reason. However, Yoon's side announced that the Blue House will be fully opened at midnight on May 10.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.