South Korea's presidential office moving back to traditional Blue House

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is moving the presidential office back to the country's traditional Blue House compound, departing from the defence ministry complex where his ousted predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol had set up his office.



Lee's office has said it expects to complete the move to the Blue House mansion by around Christmas.



The presidential residence, however, is not moving at the same time as parts of the Blue House are undergoing an inspection due to damage that occurred ‍during the last administration, and measures will be announced later, the office said on Monday.



Lee, who won a snap election in June, pledged during his campaign to eventually move the presidential office to Sejong city, south of Seoul, where several government ministries are located, to help boost local economies outside the capital.



The presidential office did not say on Monday what ‌will happen to the compound Lee is leaving.



Former leader Yoon, who was removed from office in April after briefly declaring martial law, broke with decades of tradition by shifting his office and residence out of the Blue House.