President Lee reaffirmed his goal to establish a presidential office in Sejong City with a target move-in date of 2029 [1].
The relocation is intended to resolve administrative inefficiencies. By moving the executive office closer to other government ministries already based in Sejong, the administration aims to prevent a "government out-of-sync" situation.
President Lee said the move must happen quickly to establish the Sejong-based office. This objective has been a recurring theme for the president, who has mentioned the necessity of the transition in statements dating back to July 2025 [1].
Design work for the new facility has officially commenced [1]. The administration expects the transition to take approximately three years [1]. This timeline aligns with the goal of achieving a "Sejong presidential office era" within the current term [1].
Earlier this year, in July, the president specified that the design phase was the primary focus to meet the 2029 deadline [1]. The shift represents a significant move toward decentralizing power away from the capital city of Seoul, a long-standing goal for regional development in South Korea.
President Lee said that the office must move to Sejong quickly to ensure the government operates with maximum efficiency [1]. The project will involve coordinating architectural requirements with the existing government complex in the city [1].
“"Sejong presidential office era"”
The relocation of the presidential office to Sejong City is a strategic attempt to reduce the administrative friction caused by the physical distance between the president's office in Seoul and the majority of government ministries. If successful, this move could accelerate decision-making processes and further the national goal of balanced regional development by shifting the political center of gravity away from the Seoul metropolitan area.
