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Defense, Foreign Ministries raided over Yoon's presidential residence relocation

Published: 17 Mar. 2026, 16:36 Updated: 17 Mar. 2026, 17:32

The phoenix flag, a symbol of Korea's presidency, is taken down from the previous presidential office in Yongsan District, central Seoul, primarily used by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, on Dec. 29, 2025. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

A special counsel team raided the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday as part of its probe into suspicions linked to the presidential residence's relocation under former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The team said it was searching multiple locations, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Presidential Security Service, over alleged favoritism connected to the relocation following Yoon's 2022 presidential victory.

At the time, Yoon relocated the presidential office from the Blue House to the Defense Ministry compound in central Seoul and moved the presidential residence to the foreign minister's official residence.

The move drew scrutiny from critics, with a state audit into the relocation later finding irregularities and legal violations by the Interior Ministry and the Presidential Security Service.

A company linked to the former first lady had also won a contract for the relocation without a proper license, raising suspicions of favoritism.

The raid comes a day after the team searched the home and office of Rep. Yoon Han-hong of the main opposition People Power Party.

An earlier special probe had accused the lawmaker of involvement in the alleged favoritism when he served as the head of a task force on the relocation.

The new special counsel team launched last month to handle allegations surrounding Yoon and his wife that were not fully addressed by three previous special probes.

The presidential office moved back to the Blue House following President Lee Jae Myung's election last year.

Yonhap