President Moon Jae-in vowed in his inaugural address on Wednesday to move the presidential office out of the palatial Cheong Wa Dae compound and into the far less-glamorous government headquarters in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul.

The move is symbolic of plans to end the quasi-imperial status of the presidency and share more powers with other democratic institutions. "I will leave Cheong Wa Dae as soon as preparations are done, and it will herald a new era of a humble presidency," Moon said.

Gwanghwamun is the main government and business district just south of the lush presidential compound that sits behind a royal palace from the Chosun Dynasty.

Moon also pledged to move the presidential residence from Cheong Wa Dae to a more utilitarian home in Gwanghwamun.