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The new President Yoon Suk-Yeol, who was elected in 2022, decided not to live there and opened the residence up to the public. Yonhap has cited security officials who say that security is better at the new location, which is not overlooked by tall buildings and is militarily more defensible. It also comes with its own underground bunker, as the Blue House does, to double as a war room in national emergencies. A survey released in March showed that some 58% of South Koreans were against the relocation, with many critics saying the move had implications for national security and cost. Some also worry that the issue has taken precedence over more pressing matters, like increased nuclear activity in North Korea and post-pandemic economic recovery.
visitseoul.net
This is the best option you can take if you don’t have a Korean phone number. Within the day, a confirmation of your reservation will be sent to your email (so if you haven’t received it, check your spam folder). Note that, to be able to register on the official website, you need to have a local mobile number, which you can get by purchasing a sim card at Incheon Airport. To visit Cheongwadae Seoul, make a reservation on the official website; simply click “Visit Cheongwadae” on the homepage to get started.
Presidential Blue House
If you do not speak Korean, you can use the supplied audio tour guide for free. Known as "The Blue House Raid," North Korea sent 31 military commandos to assassinate then-South Korean President Park Chung-he in 1968. The attempt was unsuccessful, and almost all of the soldiers were either killed or committed suicide. Yoon said his decision was motivated by his desire to be a people-first president. Thousands of people have gathered near the Blue House in the past for mass rallies and marches. Nearby residents said they suffered from noise and traffic congestion.
South Koreans get peek inside Blue House presidential palace - Los Angeles Times
South Koreans get peek inside Blue House presidential palace.
Posted: Wed, 18 May 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
VISITING BLUE HOUSE
There is also a large front area with a garden designed in the traditional Korean manner and separate men’s quarters (Sarangchae). This Western-style room in the East Wing of the main building was where small banquets, lunches, and dinners were held. The creme interior walls and big blue painting with the small garden in the back is surely a great place for appointments. Cheong Wa Dae, also known as the Blue House, served as the official residence and office of the South Korean President for 74 remarkable years, from 1948 to 2022. Nestled amidst the scenic backdrop of Bugaksan Mountain in the heart of Seoul, this iconic complex witnessed pivotal moments in Korean history.
Cheongwadae, also known as the Blue House, is the Korean presidential residence. Located in central Seoul, visitors may visit Cheongwadae through an official tour. The presidential office, reception hall, and conference room are located in Cheongwadae's main building. The residence's grounds have a pond and gardens that reach to the foot of Bugaksan Mountain. Reservations for tours must be made in advance; reservations can be made as far as 6 months in advance and no sooner than 20 days before the desired tour date.
Korea Rail Pass (KR PASS): KTX Bullet Trains to Busan & others (2, 3, 4 or 5 Days)
To register on the official website, you must have a local phone number, which you can get by purchasing a sim card at Incheon Airport when you arrive in Korea. Reservations can be made up to 4 weeks in advance, and up to 6 people can be registered per reservation. Before coming to the Blue House, you must keep in mind that this is an official landmark that requires visitors to dress formally or in traditional Korean clothing. If you violate the dress code, be understanding as to why they cannot let you in. For 74 years, it served to house the South Korean president, and only they were able to enter the building.
South Korea's Blue House opens to public for first time in 74 years
Initially a royal villa during the Goryeo Dynasty in Hanyang, it later became the back garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace in the Joseon era. During the Japanese occupation, it transformed into a government administrative building. In 1948, with the establishment of the Republic of Korea, President Syngman Rhee renamed it “Gyeong Mu Dae” and used it as both an office and residence. The gregarious main building, along with several embellishments, were completed during the sixth president Roh Tae-woo’s term after the successful 1988 Summer Olympics.
On the first floor, there is a Korea Tourism Exhibition Hall, a souvenir shop, and a shelter, and on the second floor, there is a Cheong Wa Dae Hall and a public communication experience center. In January 1968, North Korean infiltrators nearly reached the building in a bid to assassinate President Park Chung Hee during the Blue House raid. In the ensuing melee, 28 North Koreans, 26 South Koreans, and four Americans were killed. The unit marched along Segeomjeong Road near Jahamun toward the Blue House, passing several National Police and ROKA units en route. On January 17, 1968, at 11 p.m., they infiltrated the DMZ by cutting through the fencing of the U.S. On January 19, at 5 a.m., after having crossed the Imjin River, they set up camp on Simbong Mountain.
Nami Island, Petite France, and Garden of Morning Calm Day Tour from Seoul
Traditional dance performances and banquets would be held here to welcome other heads of state. Do you know that the Blue House was formerly a royal villa in Hanyang, the capital of the Goryeo Dynasty, where it now stands? It became the palace’s back garden once Joseon took over and Gyeongbokgung Palace was built. After security, you will enter a room and watch a quick video on the history and background of Cheong Wa Dae.
At Nokjiwon a succession of presidents planted trees on memorial occasions. The Mugunghwa Valley has colorful flowers, a fountain, and a phoenix statue, which makes it perfect for taking pictures. It is best to visit here between July and October when the Mugunghwa flowers bloom. The signature markings of the Presidential Residence of Cheong Wa Dae are its blue tiles.
Blue House Brawl: South Korea Spars Over Where Next President Will Live - The Wall Street Journal
Blue House Brawl: South Korea Spars Over Where Next President Will Live.
Posted: Sat, 26 Mar 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
A walk around the paths just outside the Blue House grounds is a pleasure as the surroundings are peaceful and beautiful. The paths follow Gyeongbokgung Palace to the Blue House and to Samcheong-dong Park. The walk from the East Gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace to the Blue House is the most beautiful part.
Walking into Cheongwadae, you can feel the excitement of everyone there to see a building that’s been closed for so long. It feels like an incredibly fancy building, and it’s always cool to see cultural sites because you can feel all of the history in a place when you walk around. Seobyeolgwan is a meeting-only building located on the west side of the main building of the Blue House, facing Chunchugwan with a heliport in between. Yeonpungmun Gate, located right in front of it, is a place where Cheong Wa Dae employees enter and outsiders enter. Chilgung is a Joseon-era shrine located right next to the Blue House guesthouse.
It was only just recently that people were granted full access; and this was merely because the president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol decided to relocate the presidential office. The blue tiles go all the way back to the Goryeo dynasty, and I’m not a historian, but during my research I learned that it was a belief during this period that a home with a blue roof is a symbol of wealth. Also, if you’ve seen the White House before, and then came to visit Cheongwadae in Seoul, you may be surprised that it’s not a single building, but a complex of multiple structures.
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