President Yoon invites 400 guests to housewarming party

President Yoon Suk Yeol on June 19 held an event with his new neighbors to mark the relocation of the presidential office to Yongsan-gu District of Seoul.

His housewarming party that day was held at the grass garden of his office's new building in the district. The some 400 people invited included residents of the area and self-employed and office workers who experienced hardship caused by COVID-19 and their children.

The presidential office hosted the gathering as a housewarming party to mark the near completion of remodeling of the office to be used by President Yoon and his staff.

The chief executive thanked the people at the event for allowing him and his staff to move the office to the Yongsan-gu area and welcoming them.

"The relocation of the presidential office marks the beginning of a new era and the first step in realizing an open presidential office ready for communication," he added.

"I will strive to make Yongsan stand out more as the center of Seoul," he said. "I will do my best for the citizens of Yongsan and Seoul as well as the people of the Republic of Korea."

The president also saw at the grass garden an exhibition of children's paintings under the theme "The Republic of Korea Children Dream Of," and greeted the invited visitors.

A food festival featuring nearby businesses was also held, and a flea market of 30 booths offered vintage goods, jewelry, handmade soap and other crafts to promote small businesses in the area that experienced difficulty due to COVID-19.

President Yoon also met the families of people of merit from Afghanistan who helped the Korean government's activities and fled their country in August last year to avoid retaliation from the Taliban regime.