Moon, Yoon play nice, but Yongsan move still debated

President Moon Jae-in, right, and President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol shake hands as they meet before their first dinner meeting at the Blue House in central Seoul Monday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

After a display of concord at the first meeting between President Moon Jae-in and successor Yoon Suk-yeol, attention is now focused on the planned move of the presidential office.

Moon and Yoon's dinner meeting Monday, which took an unprecedented 19 days after the March 9 presidential election to take place, came off without even a hint of major discord.

Kim Eun-hye, Yoon's spokesperson, said in a briefing Tuesday morning, "I believe the handshake and dialogue between the incumbent president and the president-elect during the transition of government was meaningful in alleviating the worries of the people a little bit."

She added, "It is also signficant that the two sides confirmed that they have the same intentions as the situation within and outside the country is difficult and that the crisis must be overcome with the power of a unified people."

The dinner at the Sangchunje guest house at the Blue House lasted two hours and 51 minutes, longer than any first meeting between a president and his successor. The previous record was two hours and 10 minutes by former President Roh Moo-hyun and his conservative successor Lee Myung-bak in December 2007.

Despite previously expressing concern that a "security vacuum" could result from a rushed move of the presidential office to the Defense Ministry compound in Yongsan District, Moon conveyed that he plans to cooperate with Yoon's plan.

People Power Party (PPP) Rep. Chang Je-won, Yoon's chief of staff, quoted Moon as saying in a press briefing after the dinner Monday, "I think the decision to relocate the presidential office is up to the next administration, and the current government will closely examine and cooperate on the budget according to the exact relocation plan."

Yoon has been adamant about not moving into the Blue House, which he seems as a symbol of "imperialistic" power. He plans to bring the presidential office closer to the people in Yongsan and then open up the Blue House compound to the public as a park or museum. However, Cabinet approval is needed to pay for the relocation.

As Yoon arrived on the Blue House premises at 6 p.m. Monday, Moon pointed out main features of the compound, such as the hanok traditional Korean-style architecture, the Nokjiwon garden and a presidential helicopter pad.

The Blue House meal included bibimbap, a Korean rice dish with spring vegetables, seen as symbolizing harmony and unity, a key pledge made by Yoon. They also had galbi (marinated beef ribs) paired with red wine.

Moon and Yoon did not have any one-on-one time despite some speculation that they might hold private talks after the meal. They were joined by Moon's chief of staff, Yoo Young-min, and Rep. Chang, throughout the evening.

The two sides pledged lower-level discussions on issues such as personnel appointments and a supplementary budget.

Moon said his government will try its best to manage the Covid-19 pandemic and will consider it the biggest remaining task, according to Chang.

Yoon has pushed for a supplementary budget of 50 trillion won ($40.7 billion) for Covid-19 recovery. The Moon government has not been keen on approving of any additional budget in its remaining weeks.

Moon and Yoon agreed on the importance of relief for small businesses and merchants, but the two sides didn't discuss specific figures.

Chang and Lee Cheol-hee, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, will continue to discuss the personnel appointment issue.

The two sides have clashed over the appointment of two vacant posts out of seven commissioners on the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), but the issue was somewhat resolved after the BAI sided with Yoon on the matter in a report last week. This also helped Moon and Yoon's meeting to be rescheduled after their first meeting on March 16 was called off at the last minute.

There was no discussion in this meeting about sensitive issues such as a special pardon for former President Lee Myung-bak, who has been serving a 17-year sentence for embezzlement and bribery since 2018.

Dispelling concerns over discord between the outgoing and incoming presidents, Yoon asked for Moon's help, and the president promised to offer his assistance and experience whenever necessary.

Yoon said that "it is important to inherit successful policies" from the current government and improve ones that aren't so good, according to Chang.

The two also briefly discussed how they both have pet dogs named "Tori."

No follow-up meeting was planned, but Moon told Yoon to contact him whenever there is the need.

Moon wished Yoon "success," and presented him with a tie. The president-elect wished Moon "good health."

The Blue House didn't give a separate briefing on the meeting, an indication of courtesy for Yoon.

Yoon's spokesperson Kim said on the meeting Tuesday, "We commend that the two of them reached a consensus on the need to work together to manage the Covid-19 situation and to ameliorate the damages suffered by small businesses and the self-employed merchants."

Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of Yoon's transition team, said in a meeting Tuesday, "I believe that the meeting will be an opportunity to give momentum to the transition and cooperation will go well."

However, he also criticized the Moon administration and said, "The government has ruined many state affairs, despite having a variety of means, by only adhering to the hammer it wants to use."

Yoon presided over a meeting of his key aides in the transition team Tuesday and didn't go into the details of his meeting with Moon.

Despite Moon's tacit approval of the presidential office move, he conveyed that budget approval will only come after a review of the Yongsan relocation plan, which puts into question if it can take place before Yoon's inauguration on May 10.

There have been differing views on the total cost of the relocation plan, with Yoon's team estimating around 49.6 billion won for the remodeling and moving process. The Defense Ministry and ruling Democratic Party say it will be much higher.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]