Latest news with #BlueHouse
NHK
40 minutes ago
- Politics
- NHK
South Korea's Lee to move presidential office back to historic 'Blue House'
The administration of new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has decided to return the presidential office to the historic compound of Cheong Wa Dae, which had served as the president's office for more than 70 years. The administration announced on Tuesday that it approved the plan at a Cabinet meeting. The 250,000-square-meter compound, also known as the Blue House, sits in central Seoul. Often viewed as a "symbol of power" due to the president's authority, former President Yoon Suk-yeol relocated the office to what was the defense ministry building in 2022. But Lee had sought to move his center of operations back to the Blue House as the office has a strong connection to the ousted leader who declared martial law in December last year. The compound is currently open to the public for sightseeing visits. But officials say they plan to limit reservations from mid-July and temporarily suspend tours from August 1. South Korean media outlets suggest that the compound may be packed with tourists until then.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Lee Jae Myung calls South Korean presidential office a ‘graveyard' amid shambolic handover of power
The newly sworn-in president of South Korea quipped that the presidential office left behind by ousted leader Yoon Suk Yeol felt like a 'graveyard' on his first day of office, with not even a pencil left behind. Lee Jae Myung took office on Wednesday after winning the snap presidential election with a significant margin over his rival Kim Moon Soo, riding a wave of anger after Mr Yoon's 3 December martial law bid threw the country into chaos. The new leader appeared baffled at the lack of preparation at the presidential Yongsan office after finding that it was stripped of computers, printers and even pens. 'I just came to the Yongsan office, and it's like a graveyard. There's nothing, not even an employee to give me something to write. No computers, or even printers,' he said in his inaugural address. 'It's absolutely ridiculous.' Kang Yu Jung, the new spokesperson for Mr Lee's presidential office, said it ceased functioning after Mr Yoon was impeached by parliament on 14 December and did not have any system in place to continue working in his absence or sign off key documents. Ms Kang said that the previous administration did not leave transition instructions for the incoming administration. Mr Yoon moved out of the official presidential palace known as the Blue House after his election victory in 2022, becoming the first leader in the country's modern history to shun the iconic location. He instead moved to a new office inside a former defence ministry building in Yongsan, Seoul. The new president hinted on the campaign trail that he is likely to return to the Blue House, also known as Cheong Wa Dae, after renovations, and reportedly described the Yongsan residence a security nightmare. The transition is likely to take up to six months. Mr Lee has instructed some of officials who were working in the presidential office, but had gone back to their parent ministries or departments after Mr Yoon was impeached, to come back and resume their roles in his office, Ms Kang said. Mr Lee has entered office in a country facing a number of challenges after Mr Yoon's martial law bid left a deeply scarred and polarised country. The president will have to revive the economy and work with unpredictable protectionist moves by the United States, a major trading partner and a security ally. Mr Lee on Wednesday announced his administration's first key appointments. Kim Min Seok was appointed as the prime minister, and Kang Hoon Sik as chief of staff. The prime minister said the country was facing even more economic turmoil than during the Asian financial crisis of 1997, complicated by unfavourable external factors. "Today, the economy is heading downward and stagnating, which is why I believe it's much more difficult," he told reporters.
Dublin Live
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Dublin Live
Next €38 dress hailed as a budget-friendly alternative to Dolce & Gabbana's €2,000 design
Now that we've had our first proper heatwave of the year, fashion enthusiasts will undoubtedly be sorting out their warm weather wardrobes in anticipation of summer's arrival. Next is selling the Cream Pink and Blue House Print Scoop Back Mini Shift Dress for €38, which is a bargain considering it resembles a much pricier version. While not a perfect match, the shift dress bears a striking similarity to a Dolce and Gabbana piece. If you were to choose the high-end Capri Printed Cotton Mini Dress, it would cost you a hefty €1,000, currently halved from its original RRP of €2,000. This makes the Next version €962 cheaper than the luxury brand's offering. Available in petite, regular and tall sizes ranging from six to 26, the €38 dress is made from a lightweight linen blend that's summer-ready. The mini dress features a scoop back neckline with side pockets and a split side hem, reports the Manchester Evening News. The standout feature of the dress is its stunning print that oozes a European holiday vibe, reminiscent of the D&G number inspired by Capri. Meanwhile, Roman's Royal Blue Abstract Border Print Shirt Dress is now slashed to €44 from €50 with the promo code SHINE at the checkout. If you fancy something with Italian flair, check out New Look's White Amalfi Postcard Print Slit Hem Midi Dress. The Cream Pink and Blue House Print Scoop Back Mini Shift Dress has received rave reviews, boasting an impressive 4.5-star rating from over a dozen buyers. One chuffed customer said: "Very nice dress, .looks fabulous on. Bright and nicely different pattern." Another shared: "Lovely little summer dress. The muted colours able to dress up or down depending on the occasion." Someone else pointed out: "Nice shape dress," adding, "Easy to wear and comfortable. Great for holidays day or night. Great colour and fabric." However, one buyer only gave the Cream Pink and Blue House Print Scoop Back Mini Shift Dress three stars, critiquing it as 'unflattering', noting: "Colours were very drab, the neckline was very high. Not a flattering dress." But another shopper was smitten with their Next find, saying: "Perfect for holidays. Classic shape and beautiful print. The longer length is just right for me." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Next's £32 dress channels Dolce & Gabbana vibes for a fraction of the price
Fashion fans have been raving about Next's £32 'Italian-inspired' mini dress that gives serious Dolce & Gabbanna vibes for more than £1600 cheaper Now that we've had our first real heatwave of the year, fashion enthusiasts are likely preparing their summer wardrobes in anticipation of the warmer weather. If you're searching for the ideal dress to wear during the sunny UK days or on a holiday abroad, Boden is offering a 25% discount on everything until next week - including some standout summer dresses. Boden's Bank Holiday sale includes reductions on dresses, trousers, skirts, shoes and jumpsuits, which you can shop here. Meanwhile, it's worth checking out Next for some great holiday-ready and designer inspired pieces. The high street retailer is selling the Cream Pink and Blue House Print Scoop Back Mini Shift Dress for £32, a bargain considering its resemblance to a much pricier version. While not an exact match, the shift dress bears a striking similarity to a Dolce and Gabbana piece. If you were to choose the high-end Capri Printed Cotton Mini Dress, it would cost you a hefty £850, currently half its original RRP of £1,700. This makes the Next version nearly £820 cheaper than the luxury brand's offering. Available in petite, regular and tall cuts in a range of sizes from six to 26, the £32 dress is made from a lightweight linen blend perfect for summer. The mini dress features a scoop back neckline with side pockets and a split side hem. The standout feature of this frock is undeniably its stunning print. The fabric's motif evokes the charm of a European getaway, reminiscent of the pattern on a Dolce & Gabbana piece inspired by the idyllic Italian island of Capri. Meanwhile, Roman's Royal Blue Abstract Border Print Shirt Dress exudes Mamma Mia! vibes and is up for grabs at £37.20, down from £42 with the code SHINE used at checkout. And over at New Look, you can find the White Amalfi Postcard Print Slit Hem Midi Dress that also draws inspiration from the scenic Italian coastline, reports the Manchester Evening News. The Cream Pink and Blue House Print Scoop Back Mini Shift Dress, however, has garnered praise from customers, earning an impressive 4.5 out of five-star overall rating based on over a dozen reviews. A contented customer commented: "Very nice dress, .looks fabulous on. Bright and nicely different pattern." Another review added: "Lovely little summer dress. The muted colours able to dress up or down depending on the occasion." Also, one person remarked: "Nice shape dress," pointing out that it's "Easy to wear and comfortable. Great for holidays day or night. Great colour and fabric." However, not all feedback was glowing as one shopper gave the Cream Pink and Blue House Print Scoop Back Mini Shift Dress just three stars, criticising it as 'unflattering' – an opinion worth considering. The critique read: "Colours were very drab, the neckline was very high. Not a flattering dress." Despite that, another was thrilled with their latest Next acquisition, saying: "Perfect for holidays. Classic shape and beautiful print. The longer length is just right for me."
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Stain of martial law bid deters use of S. Korean Yoon's office
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's move from the historic Blue House has an estimated total cost of 1 trillion won. (AP pic) SEOUL : Just three years after South Korea's former President Yoon Suk Yeol moved the presidential office from the historic Blue House, his potential successors are vowing to move again, as they seek to escape the taint of his martial law attempt. Yoon, stripped of office on April 4 over the bid that triggered a snap election on June 3, never set foot in the Blue House, having promised to abolish the 'imperial presidency' that he said the old executive compound had come to embody. His move to the defence ministry headquarters was estimated to have cost at least US$40 million, with renovations still in progress when he was removed. Critics of the move have said the total cost could reach 1 trillion won (US$721 million). Yoon's office denied that claim while saying indirect costs could take the total to 80 billion won. It has never released an official accounting. 'It is where a military coup was plotted,' Kim Min-seok, a Democratic Party lawmaker and a key ally of the presidential frontrunner Lee Jae-myung, said of Yoon's new office. Besides, it made little sense for the president to be in the same place as the military, he added. Both Lee and Kim Moon-soo, the candidate of the conservative People Power Party, say they would need to initially move into the office after the June 4 inauguration for lack of a secure alternative, but plan to move as soon as possible afterwards. Lee said his time spent there would be short, until the Blue House is ready for him to move back, before eventually taking the office permanently to Sejong, an administrative city hours away in the central region. Kim has also said he would set up an office in Sejong 'soon'. Yoon could not immediately be reached for comment. The proposal to move the seat of government and parliament to Sejong, 113km from Seoul, is not new, and it is unclear if the latest plans will go further than previous attempts. In 2003, then-President Roh Moo-hyun pushed ahead with his campaign pledge to move the capital in a plan to ensure regional balance by reversing the concentration of political and economic activity in Seoul. But he was forced to scale back the plan a year later, when the constitutional court ruled the capital relocation plan unconstitutional. Government workers also proved reluctant to uproot their families from bustling Seoul. Moving to Sejong would require passing a special law, which may need further review by the constitutional court, a process that would take a 'tremendous amount of time', said political commentator Kim Sang-jin. 'It is a long-term project at best for the new government,' said Kim, a former Blue House official. National character After Yoon's fall, his Yongsan office has become a place to avoid for presidential hopefuls, as an emblem both of his abuse of power and the affinity for shamans many suspect the former first couple to have. Taking its name from a central crossroads at Yongsan in the capital, the office has become a symbol of a closed and domineering presidency that critics said deepened an already bitter social divide in an otherwise vibrant democracy. For nearly two months from May 2022, Yoon worked from a temporary space in the defence ministry headquarters until his new office there was ready, at times receiving intelligence briefings in a secure basement bunker. Some attributed the often haphazard decisions made there to advice from shamans the first couple was suspected to received, including even the office move to Yongsan. Yoon consistently denied that the couple had any involvement with a shaman. 'Yongsan has become a symbol of bullheadedness and witchcraft,' Hong Joon-pyo, who was a presidential candidate for Yoon's People Power Party, has said. 'It is a question of national character.'
