KT kicked off the major overhaul in late 2021, but construction gained momentum after requests to align its reopening with the launch of the new administration. Final touches — including interior finishes, systems testing, and deep cleaning — are now underway.

The tower sits on 8,349㎡ of land and provides over 72,800㎡ of floor area across 15 above-ground stories and three basement levels. Roughly 13% of the site is owned by the government, and historically, the building has housed presidential task forces, special committees, and advisory bodies.

One construction source said, “The delivery timeline was pushed forward by about two to three months to meet the new government’s opening plans.” 

The wider Gwanghwamun area is home to many core ministries and diplomatic offices — with proximity to both the current Yongsan presidential office and the former Blue House. KT’s tower, next door to the U.S. Embassy, is viewed as ideal for agencies that require security and autonomy.

A real estate industry insider noted, “With talk of the presidential office potentially returning to Cheong Wa Dae, the building is under review as a base for transitional or support teams.” 

Not all floors will go to government tenants. KT is simultaneously transforming part of the tower into an AI hub in partnership with Microsoft.

The new ‘AX Delivery Center,’ ‘AX Innovation Center,’ and ‘AX Training Center’ aim to drive next-generation R&D and training under what officials describe as a “Korean-style AI” initiative.

This article was first published by CoreBeat on June 4, 2025.