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기사입력 : 2025.07.09 22:55
[교육연합신문=이채원 학생기자]
Cheongwadae, otherwise known as the Blue House, is known as both the executive office and the residence office of the president of South Korea. It is currently considered a public park located in the Jongno District behind Gyeongbokgung Palace. Under the presidency of Yoon Suk Yeol in 2022, Cheongwadae was opened to the public as both a museum and an urban park.
However, with the new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung now expected to move the presidential office and residence back to Cheongwadae, restoring it to its original role, July will be the last chance for the public to visit the Blue House, as there will be a temporary suspension of tours set in place starting August 1, 2025.
The official site dates back to 1104 during the Goryeo Dynasty. At the time, it was built as a royal villa by King Sukjong. In the Joseon Dynasty, Cheongwadae became the garden of Gyeongbokgung Palace and was used for royal rituals, state events, and numerous other festivities.
Following Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945), the site was utilized by the U.S. military government, and then officially became the presidential residence and office of South Korea’s first president, Syngman Rhee, in 1948. Originally known as Gyeongmundae, the site served as the administrative center of the nation. However, in 1960, President Yun Posun renamed it to Cheongwadae in 1961 in response to the public’s negative perception of the previous name, with inspiration from the blue tiles on the main building’s roof.
Throughout the administrations of numerous presidents including Park Chung Hee, Choi Kyu-hah, Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo, Kim Young-sam, Kim Da- jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye, and Moon Jae-in, Cheongwadae was preserved with dignity, upholding its stature and historical legitimacy as the official presidential residence and executive office. It fulfilled this role until May 9, 2022, when President Yoon Suk Yeol relocated the presidential office and formally opened the site to the public.
Cheongwadae’s grounds comprise several key sections, including the Main Office Hall, the Presidential Residence, and the State Reception House Yeongbin-gwan, which is used for official state banquets and receptions. Other notable areas include Chunchu-gwan, serving as a press hall for media briefings and conferences; the Secretariat Buildings, housing presidential staff and administrative offices; the expansive gardens and grounds; and the Sarangchae, known as the outer quarters.
With Cheongwadae becoming less publicly available in the future, it is highly recommended to visit the site before July 31, as it may be one of the last chances to do so. Tours will remain unchanged until July 14 and will then change in the following weeks. The gardens and nature make Cheongwadae the ideal place of peace; one will be able to clear their head even amongst all the tours in this beautiful place. Both locals and tourists are encouraged to explore this historically and currently significant heritage site.
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