President Lee Jae-myung to appoint PM, key secretaries, start duties at Yongsan Presidential Office

As of 6:21 AM, all presidential powers have been handed over to President Lee Jae-myung, which also means the Yongsan presidential office will be his new office.

Our correspondent Oh Soo-young is at the presidential office in Yongsan.

Q1. Sooyoung, what kind of preparations have been made to receive the new president?

After a long period of vacancy, the Yongsan Presidential Office awaits its new occupant.

As of early this morning, the flag bearing the presidential phoenix is back up outside the building.

While Lee initially floated plans to relocate the presidential office, for now, he will have no choice but to work from the current set up.

Ahead of his arrival, the presidential office has completed inspections of the internal facilities, including secure communications networks and the situation room, and has stripped all traces of the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration, such as banners and slogans, with key secretaries also formally dismissed as of midnight.

Figuratively handing over the keys to the top office, the Chief of the General Affairs Office will deliver documents prepared by previous secretaries and guide Lee and his staff through the presidential complex.

Q2. President Lee has already begun his official duties.

Yes, Lee became the Commander-in-Chief as of 6:21 AM --the time the National Election Commission declared him as the elected president.

He received his first military briefing from Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kim Myung-soo just over 8AM.

According to the Presidential Office, Kim briefed the President on the country's security situation regarding North Korea, stating that "there are no issues with the military's readiness posture."

Lee reportedly asked the Chairman to closely monitor North Korea's movements and maintain a watertight state of preparedness, based on the South Korea–U.S. combined defense posture.

He also commended the military on its generally passive response to impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law, out of their loyalty to the nation and the people.

Q3. Lee won an early election intended to fill the vacuum left by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, which means he begins right away without a transition team. Then how will he form his administration within a matter of hours?

So we're expecting to hear President Lee announce key positions for his administration.

The Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers will need parliamentary approval but senior secretaries working with him directly don't need a vetting process and can start right away.

He's expected to name his PM, Chief of Staff, and Senior Secretaries and a National Security Advisor --key figures in coordinating economic policy and handling Korea's diplomacy.

Let's see what's announced on Day One of the new government. I'll keep you updated.

Thank you.

That was our presidential correspondent Oh Soo-young in Yongsan.