South Koreans get peek inside Blue House presidential palace Los Angeles Times

Table Of Content

• What a Concert by K-Pop Legend Rain in South Korea’s Former Presidential Compound Says About the Country’s Politics
• Why did Yoon Suk-yeol move his office out of the Blue House?
• OFFICIAL RESIDENCE
• Presidential Residence (대통령관저)
• Main building of the Blue House (Cheongwadae)
• South Korea's Blue House opens to public for first time in 74 years
• Taean Tulip Festival & Strawberry Picking Day Tour

It comes from the Korean nickname for Cheongwadae, which has a vivid blue-tiled roof that has remained unchanged throughout the years. Several renovations were made to improve the presidential home, but the roof has stayed on over the years. Note that the guided tours of Cheongwadae Seoul are only given to those who have made prior reservations. Also, keep in mind that the Blue House is closed on Mondays and special holidays. The largest of the Korean palaces sitting right in front of the Blue House can’t be overlooked of course.

What a Concert by K-Pop Legend Rain in South Korea’s Former Presidential Compound Says About the Country’s Politics

You should give them your passport; they check your application and issue a number. The bus ride from the palace to the Blue House last for about 10 minutes. Before entering the place, you go through a security check after which you will receive a small gift.. The garden covers an area of 3, 300 m2 and is populated by 120 different tree species planted by former Presidents. Located in the center of the garden, the umbrella pine tree is more than 160 years old and about 17m tall.

Why did Yoon Suk-yeol move his office out of the Blue House?

The area features a diverse collection of trees, including up to 120 kinds, with each president contributing commemorative trees. You can register on-site at the Main Gate’s General Information Center if you don’t have a local phone number. However, only 500 visitors per session and up to 2000 visitors per day are permitted. Still, making a reservation online beforehand is best to ensure you can join the tour.

OFFICIAL RESIDENCE

After a Presidential decree, The Blue House was declared a public park this year, 2022, and opened to the people for the first time since it was built. You can imagine how excited citizens and tourists have been to visit. There is a limit of 6,500 people that can enter every two hours by reservation for this reason. The fourth president, Yun Bo-seon, later changed the name to Cheongwadae, meaning “The Blue House,” due to the distinctive blue tiling on the roof. Until the presidency of Yoon Suk-Yeol, all Korean presidents utilized it for official and residential purposes.

The State Guest House is the venue for hosting official events that involve foreign guests. The eighteen stone pillars that support the structure, impart a stately appearance. The first floor serves as a reception room while the second floor is a dining area. Mugunghwa Valley, named after Korea’s national flower, was previously the site of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency’s Gungjeong-dong safe house. Today, it has been repurposed into a public park, providing a serene and recreational space for visitors to enjoy.

Main building of the Blue House (Cheongwadae)

It's also where state meetings, press conferences, and special ceremonies are held. Cheongwadae Sarangchae is a comprehensive tourist exhibition center to introduce various tourist spots of Korea. There you can find a lot of interesting information about the Blue House and the history of Korean presidents there. Cheongwadae (청와대) or more famously known as the Blue House is the place where the president of Korea lives and works.

Previous presidents' personal items go on display at Blue House - The Korea JoongAng Daily

Previous presidents' personal items go on display at Blue House.

Posted: Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

South Korea's Blue House opens to public for first time in 74 years

Park Chung Hee seized power in a 1961 coup d'état and ruled as a military strongman until his election and inauguration as the President of South Korea in 1963. The attack at the Blue House took place in the context of the Korean DMZ Conflict (1966–69), which in turn was influenced by the Vietnam War. It is true that many of the previous inhabitants of the Blue House have been treated unkindly by fate.

PALACES

Once the site of a royal garden, the Japanese built the official residence for their governors-general there during Tokyo’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. After Korea was liberated from Japan in 1945, the U.S. military commander occupied the place until it became South Korea’s official presidential office and residence upon the country’s foundation in 1948. Cheong Wa Dae was built upon the site of the royal garden of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910). While the Blue House served as an executive office, it was one of the most protected official residences in Asia. Upon the inauguration of President Yoon Suk Yeol in May 2022, Cheong Wa Dae was relieved of its duties as the official residence and executive office of the president. The president's office and residence were moved to the Ministry of National Defense building in the Yongsan District of Seoul, and Cheong Wa Dae was fully converted into a public park.

Situated right beside the Cheongwadae, Gyeongbokgung is absolutely a must-visit spot. Constructed in 1394 by Taejo, the first Joseon king, it is the largest among the five palaces and was the main palace during the Joseon dynasty. Exploring this historical site provides a beautiful glimpse into traditional Korean culture. Wearing a hanbok, wandering around the palaces, and taking amazing photos are experiences every visitor would love to try. In addition, if you wear a hanbok to this site, you will receive a free admission ticket. This garden is ideal for leisurely walking and relaxing on a beautiful day.

Because of its popularity, the line here is often so long, so if you find it too long, you can visit other locations first and then return here at the end of your Cheongwadae journey. ➥ Handpicked experiences by KoreaToDo for their uniqueness, value, popularity, price competitiveness and at times, tedious to reach by public transport. Chunchugwan (Spring & Autumn Hall) - Built to be used as a press conference venue for the President and as a reporting room for reporters. Arrive to the meeting place at least 20 minutes before your tour starts. They will not wait for you and will not let you join midway because you missed the instructions. The park is also pretty big, so never lose sight of your tour guide and follow their instructions.

The decision to open Cheongwadae was controversial, but President Yoon firmly stated that the Blue House symbolized Korea’s legacy of imperial presidencies. He relocated his office to the defense ministry building in Yongsan. It has always been the designated location where the president makes official announcements.

Goryeo's principal capital was at Kaesong, and it also maintained a western capital at Pyongyang and an eastern capital at Gyeongju. It was used as the site for civil service examinations and military training. His relocation plans, however, have faced complaints that they were rushed and unrealistic.

With this change in policy, the Blue House is expected to welcome up to 39,000 people a day, an increase from the 1,500 visitors that the guided tours currently handle. Yoon, however, started his first day earlier this month as president in Yongsan, and the ex-presidential office was opened to the public that same day. Actually, civilians are not permitted to enter the buildings, but you can get a closer look of the area. The government organizes free tours of Cheongwadae and the surrounding area for Koreans and foreigners. To make reservations online, you will need to visit the official website of the Blue House and navigate to the reservation page.

It’s the building that has the blue tiles on the roof that gave the property its name. It has been used as the official presidential office since it was built in 1911 to 2022. Since it’s been opened to the public, it’s been made into a museum of the lives of presidents while they used this space. The Blue House has gone through multiple transformations over the years. Once the site of a royal garden, the Japanese built the official residence for their governors-general there during Tokyo's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. After Korea was liberated from Japan in 1945, the US military commander occupied the place until it became South Korea’s official presidential office and residence upon the country’s foundation in 1948.

The Blue House is believed to get its name from the Korean nickname for Cheongwadae, characterized by its enduring blue-tiled roof. Despite various renovations enhancing the presidential residence, the iconic blue roof has remained a constant. Interestingly, dating back to the Goryeo Dynasty, there was a belief that a home with a blue roof symbolized wealth. This choice of a blue-tiled roof for the Blue House might be a historical expression symbolizing the nation’s prosperity.