SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- At midnight Sunday local time, the "Phoenix Flag," a symbol of South Korea's presidency, was raised at Cheong Wa Dae, which is widely known as the Blue House, after a hiatus of three years and seven months.
The raising of the "Phoenix Flag" at Cheong Wa Dae is widely interpreted as the basic completion of the relocation of the presidential office back to the historic complex, local media reported.
The presidential office said earlier on Sunday that President Lee Jae Myung will make his first visit to the Blue House to begin working there on Monday.
Since 1948, Cheong Wa Dae has served as both the official residence and office for almost every South Korean president. However, after taking office in May 2022, former President Yoon Suk-yeol relocated the presidential office to a newly established compound at the former Ministry of National Defense building in Seoul's Yongsan district, opening the Blue House to the public.
In June this year, the incumbent President Lee announced plans to move the presidential office back to Cheong Wa Dae. ■