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Built in 1991 on the gardens of former royal palace Gyeongbokgung, South Korea's Blue House gets its name from its distinctive roof, which is made of 150,000 handmade blue tiles. Across extensive renovations over the past 74 years, the color of the roof has remained the same. The offices of the Presidential Secretariat are collectively called Yeomingwan and occupy three buildings. The name comes from the phrase Yeomin gorak which means “to share the people’s hardships and joys” and promises the Government will remain close to people through good and bad times. Apart from the main structure, this served as the residence for presidents and their families during their term in office. It comprises residential quarters (Bonchae) and a detached reception area (Byeolchae).
Cheongwadae – the Residence of the Korean President
While there are many sights and intriguing things to discover in Seoul, Cheongwadae (Blue House) has recently become one of the city’s most intriguing and mysterious attractions. This is where Korean presidents live and work, much like the White House in the United States; thus, it’s always highly secure. However, the mystery surrounding Cheongwadae was lifted in 2022 when President Yoon Suk Yeol chose not to reside there and allowed visitors to admire the building’s legacy and significance. Therefore, make time to see this unique location if you are in Seoul. This article will cover all you need to know about visiting Cheongwadae. Back when it served as a presidential home, tours were allowed in limited areas only.
Taean Tulip Festival, Kkotji Beach & Strawberry Picking Day Tour
There were occasional special events, but it was similar to the American White House, where few people had visited the interior. Yoon Suk-Yeol, the next President, elected in 2022, decided not to dwell there and opened the mansion to the public. You will walk out of the southwestern gate of Cheong Wa Dae and have to find your own transportation to your next destination. In April 2015, thousands of people marched towards the Blue House in protest against the government's poor rescue response during the Sewol ferry tragedy. In a briefing, the outgoing Moon administration said they felt the rushed relocation efforts could "create a security vacuum and confusion" amidst rising tensions with the North, per Reuters. On the actual day of the tour you must bring your passport (not ARC) and be at least 10 minutes beforehand at the information booth.
Why did Yoon Suk-yeol move his office out of the Blue House?
The presidential residence is the home of the President and his family. On the blue tiles, you can see some animals on the roof, which shows it’s a special building. Formerly the president’s home, the newly elected Korean president no longer lives there, so they’ve opened it for people to see for the first time in 74 years. If you’re interested in seeing Korea’s government buildings, you should go take a tour of The Blue House, or Cheongwadae (청와대) as it’s called in Korean. The location of Cheong Wa Dae was the site of a royal villa in Hanyang, the southern capital of the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392).
Sejong Room, Portraits of the Presidents of South Korea
Back to MB? Yoon's appointments of Lee administration officials spark concerns of backsliding - The Hankyoreh
Back to MB? Yoon's appointments of Lee administration officials spark concerns of backsliding.
Posted: Mon, 31 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The parking lot is located at the southeastern corner of the palace just outside of the palace walls. It will be very crowded and complicated at first, but I think it will gradually get better,” said Kim Jung-taek, a gallery owner near the new presidential offices. SEOUL (AP) — For many South Koreans, the former presidential palace in Seoul was a little-visited, heavily secured mountainside landmark. That’s now changed as thousands have been allowed a look inside for the first time in 74 years.
This is also the most popular building, and the line tends to be long. If you want to see it, it should be either the first or last thing you visit while at Cheongwadae. The Blue House logo was first enacted in 1995 during the Kim Young-sam administration. The logo was modified in 2005 during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. In 2008, with the inauguration of Lee Myung-bak government, a new logo was released.
S. Korea's former presidential office Blue House turns into concert venue, tourist hot spot - The Straits Times
S. Korea's former presidential office Blue House turns into concert venue, tourist hot spot.
Posted: Sun, 19 Jun 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]
National broadcaster KBS claimed that honor with its “KBS Open Concert” on May 22, as part of the Blue House’s opening festivities. But Rain’s gig—which will be taped by Netflix to use for Rain’s upcoming show—marks a tonal shift in how South Korea regards this bastion of power. “Under the [former President] Lee Myung-bak administration, there were lots of protests ...
Planning Your Visit at The Blue House
During the Japanese occupation, they built a government administrative building there. Because every South Korean president lived here, The Blue House was always pretty closed off to the public. There were special events held sometimes, but it was much like the American White House where few people have seen the interior.
If you’re wondering where everyone else’s spirit tablets are, you can visit Jongmyo Shrine, which is nearby. That is where all of the kings and queens of the Joseon dynasty’s spirits are preserved. Until the Kim Dae-jung government, reporters could freely go to the secretariat building in Cheong Wa Dae to cover the secretary. Since the Roh Moo Hyun administration, security measures have strengthened, resulting in a complete ban on reporters accessing the Blue House grounds; it can only be covered by the Spring and Autumn Hall. In response to the assassination attempt, the South Korean government organized the ill-fated Unit 684.
Where the Joseon Kings sat and where the presidents of Korean history sat? Throughout the year, there are special night viewings of the palaces downtown which can’t be beat. If you’ve seen Gyeongbokgung by day, try to see it by night this time. It’s used for official presidential announcements and for the Press Secretary to give news briefings.
“I don’t think there’s any building with a similar history in Seoul that would not have the same kind of background,” he says. Beyond its immediate revamp as a cultural venue, the future of the Blue House remains unclear. Presidents in South Korea are limited to a single five-year term, and Yoon’s successor may choose to go back to the Cheongwadae.
