President Moon Jae-in reaffirmed his de facto opposition to the relocation of the Oval Office promoted by President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol today (29th), saying, "Should we move?"
President Moon said this in response to two people's petitions against the relocation of the Oval Office today.
President Moon said, "If it is difficult to relocate to Gwanghwamun, which [President-elect Yoon] originally promised, it is questionable whether it is necessary to relocate to a location other than Gwanghwamun at a high cost."
In particular, President Moon emphasized, "Even if there is a relocation, it is questionable whether the Ministry of National Defense is the most appropriate place, and whether it is appropriate to pursue a serial relocation of the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the diplomatic missions of the Minister of Foreign Affairs at a time when security becomes severe."
President Moon also pointed out the progress before the Oval Office, saying, "It feels very contradictory to say that it is for communication while pushing the nation's centennial agenda without discussion."
However, President Moon said, "If the next government insists, the reality is that the government that will step down cannot increase the chaos further."
He added, "Our government, above all else, is paying close attention to ensuring that a security gap and a security gap do not occur during the process of relocating the Oval Office. We ask for your understanding in our government's position in having to do so."
President Moon said, "From the first President Syngman Rhee to me, who will soon step down, all past presidents have their merits. Nevertheless, if we evaluate our history after liberation as a whole, it is evaluated as the most successful country since World War II." It is very important to accumulate the history of success without breaking it.”
President Moon also said, "There was a time when the Blue House was said to be the old palace, but overall, it was a history of expanding and moving towards an open Blue House."
He continued, "Even in our government, the road in front of the Blue House has been opened and Mt. Bukak, Inwangsan, has been fully opened. Many people have visited the grounds of the Blue House. Without Corona, more openness would have taken place," he said.
Earlier, in a conversation with former anchor Sohn Seok-hee, which was broadcast on JTBC on the 26th, President Moon said, "Personally, I do not think it is very appropriate." We haven't even tried convergence," he pointed out.
(Photo = provided by the Blue House, Yonhap News)