In the early morning, before sunrise, in front of the main gate of the Blue House in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Blue House staff, collars of their thick coats turned up against the biting wind from the foot of Bugaksan Mountain, lined up at the Yeonpungmun entrance with their ID badges around their necks. They exchanged brief greetings with colleagues and passed through the speed gate equipped with metal detectors, heading one by one to their respective offices in the Yeomin Building.

It has been one month since the presidential office was relocated to the Blue House. The return to the Blue House was made official at midnight on December 29 of last year. The phoenix flag and emblem that had hung in Yongsan were moved to the Blue House, and the official name of the presidential organization reverted to "Blue House." Aides at the Blue House commented, "In Yongsan, it always felt like we were temporarily renting a place, but now it finally feels like we are where we belong." They also said, "Returning from Yongsan to the Blue House is not a regression to the past, but a process of establishing a more stable center for state affairs," adding, "We are making efforts to communicate more closely with the public in order to deliver policies that people can truly feel."

President Lee Jae-myung is arriving at work for the first time since relocating the Yongsan Presidential Office to the Blue House on December 29 of last year. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

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The functions of the Blue House buildings have been thoroughly determined for the efficiency of state affairs. This also reflects the president's intention to be closer to the people. President Lee is conducting his daily work in the Yeomin Building, rather than the main Blue House building, to reduce the psychological distance from the public. The main building of the Blue House is now mainly used for official events with significant ceremonial importance, such as summits. The intent is to break away from the negative image of the Blue House as a "palace behind nine gates" by handling routine work such as approvals and briefings in the office building where aides are always on standby. The main office in the main building, constructed by former President Roh Tae-woo in 1991, symbolized the status and authority of the president. However, since it is about 500 meters away from the Yeomin Building, where most aides work, face-to-face briefings required either a car ride or a walk of more than 15 minutes, which significantly reduced work efficiency.

Key aides are positioned within what is called a "one-minute walk" from the president. In Yeomin Building 1, President Lee works alongside Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff; Kim Yong-bum, Chief Policy Officer; and Wi Sung-rak, Chief of National Security, so they can quickly collaborate and respond to issues. In addition to these three chiefs, Yeomin Building 1 also houses the Protocol Secretary's Office, Speechwriting Office, Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, Ha Jung-woo, Senior Secretary for AI and Future Planning, and Ha Joon-kyung, Senior Secretary for Economic Growth. Yeomin Building 2 contains the State Affairs Situation Room and the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, while Yeomin Building 3 houses the National Security Office and the Senior Secretary for Public Relations. One Blue House secretary said, "We feel the change in the way we work much more than the change in physical space due to the move to the Blue House," adding, "There is a constant sense of tension, knowing that we could be called in by President Lee at any time."

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The Presidential Security Service is also minimizing checks on citizens and vehicles passing in front of the Blue House, following the principle of "open and low-profile security" since the return to the Blue House. The "Daengdaeng Run" running course (Gwanghwamun-Gyeongbokgung-Blue House-Samcheong-dong), shaped like a dog, is not restricted. In reality, the area near the presidential office is bustling with citizens jogging and tourists taking "proof shots" on roads with views of the main building. The "Open Studio" that was previously inside the Yongsan Presidential Office to promote communication with the public has also been relocated to the Sarangchae, which does not require a separate entry application.

Preparing for external events has also become much easier. The Yongsan Presidential Office, designed as a Ministry of National Defense building, was often criticized for lacking the formality required for high-level events. Another Blue House secretary explained, "With the ability to use the main building, Yeongbingwan, and Sangchunjae for events as needed, we can now hold a variety of ceremonies and events befitting the national stature of Korea."

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However, the return process has not been fully completed. Renovation of the Blue House official residence is still underway because design and construction take a long time. President Lee is still commuting from the existing Hannam-dong residence. The hiking trail on Bugaksan Mountain, which was closed due to the Blue House return, has not been fully reopened as maintenance is not yet finished. In addition, the management secretary's office in charge of the relocation is reportedly still traveling between the Blue House and Yongsan to carry out additional repairs. Controversy continues over the use of taxpayers' money for the moves between Yongsan and the Blue House. It is said that the total cost of the Yongsan relocation during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the Blue House return under President Lee Jae-myung amounts to 130 billion won. Some claim that the total cost, including all related expenses, reaches several hundred billion won.

The period during which the Blue House will symbolize the presidency is not expected to be long. President Lee has pledged to move the presidential office to Sejong City as soon as possible and has repeatedly expressed his hope to complete his term there. The government plans to integrate the basic and detailed design for the Sejong presidential office and begin construction in August 2027, after preparing the design and site. The target move-in date is August 2029. The original goal was to complete the Sejong presidential office by May 2030, but President Lee has directed that the schedule be moved up.