President Moon Jae-in has visited the former legation building used by the Korean Empire in Washington, which reopened on Tuesday as a museum after six years of renovation.

After summit talks with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, Moon visited the building and met the descendants of the first ambassador of Joseon to the U.S. Park Jeong-yang and other officials.

The presidential office said that Moon's visit reaffirms the friendship and solid U.S.-South Korea alliance as this year marks the 136th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. 

The building was erected in 1877 as a private home. It was bought by the Korean legation in 1891 but revoked of its functions following Japan's suppression of Korea's diplomatic rights in 1905.

After Japan's colonization of Korea in 1910, the Japanese government bought the building for five dollars and sold it to a private owner.

 In 2012, the South Korean government repurchased the building from an American couple.