A military drone flies during the military exercise training in Gangbuk District, Seoul, Aug. 20. Yonhap

A total of 230 cases of unauthorized drone flights around the presidential office were reported as of last year, since the top office relocated to Seoul's central district of Yongsan in 2022, an opposition lawmaker said, citing military data.

Rep. Choo Mi-ae of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea released the Capital Defense Command data, saying the top office has become more vulnerable in the new location than it was in the former presidential complex of Cheong Wa Dae.

According to the data, there were 89 unauthorized drone flights in the P-73 no-fly zone around the presidential office in 2022 after President Yoon Suk Yeol moved the office to Yongsan in May, while 141 such cases were reported last year.

When the top office was in Cheong Wa Dae, only 163 such cases were reported between 2020 and 2022.

Rep. Choo Mi-ae of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, May 8. Korea Times file

Choo said drones flying over the presidential office can pose a big threat to national security.

"A security vacuum has become a reality due to the unreasonable presidential office relocation to Yongsan," Choo said. "We need to come up with special measures to crack down on this." (Yonhap)