Cheong Wa Dae opens to public after 74 years

The main gate of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul is being opened, Tuesday, during a celebratory event to mark the full opening of the former presidential office and residence. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Building interiors still remain closed

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office and residence for more than seven decades, has been transformed from a secluded place for the president and presidential staff, to an open space for everybody.

It was opened to the public for the first time in 74 years on Tuesday, the day of the inauguration of President Yoon Suk-yeol, who promised to return the compound to the public and relocate the presidential office to the defense ministry building in Yongsan District.

Cheong Wa Dae has been the site of the presidential office and residence since the Republic of Korea government was established in 1948. However, President Yoon has repeatedly declared that he would never move into Cheong Wa Dae, calling it a symbol of Korea's legacy of imperial presidencies.

People approach the main gate of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Tuesday, during a celebratory event to mark the full opening of the former presidential office and residence. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

The celebratory event for the opening of Cheong Wa Dae began around 11 a.m., with performances by a children's choir, Seodo Sori (meaning folk songs of the western provinces), a nongak (traditional farmers' music, dance and ritual) troupe and percussion bands held in front of the main gate.

About 6,500 visitors, who had made online reservations for two-hour tours, led by 74 public representatives, entered through the main gate at 11:38 a.m.

"I came here today with my husband, who made the online reservation. We came from Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province. We waited outside the gate for about two hours before entering, but it's definitely worth it. I am filled with emotions as I think that this place was closed to the public until yesterday," said a woman in her 50s who identified herself only by the surname Kim.

Seventy-four representatives of the public, followed by 6,500 pre-registered visitors, enter the main gate of Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential office, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps

Visitors can enter through three gates: Yeongbinmun Gate (west), the main gate (center) and Chunchumun Gate (east). Closest to Yeongbinmun Gate are the state guest house, Yeongbingwan, and Chilgung Shrine.

The main office building and a large garden are located in the center while the official residence, Nokjiwon garden, Chunchugwan press building and Sanchunjae, which was built to host meetings with high-level guests, are located close to Chunchumun.

Cheong Wa Dae will be open to visitors who have made online reservations in advance from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day from Wednesday, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA). Visits will be limited to 6,500 people per two-hour time slot with a total of 39,000 per day.

"Visitors who made reservations can look around the compound freely, which covers about 250,000 square meters, or 62 acres, without any restriction. However, the interior of the buildings won't be open to the public for the time being," said Park Jung-seop, a spokesperson of the CHA.

Jongmyo Jerye, a royal ancestral ritual which has been performed at Jongmyo Shrine since 1447, is performed in the garden in front of the main office building of Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps

Park added that the CHA is currently reviewing whether to designate Cheong Wa Dae as a cultural heritage site. "Pre-inspection is required before we decide on designating the place as modern history cultural site," he said.

Situated at the foot of Mount Bugak behind Gyeongbok Palace, the main palace of the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom, the Cheong Wa Dae compound contains 61 cultural assets and historic sites. They include the Stone Buddha Seated on a Square Pedestal from Gyeongju, Chilgung Shrine and Chimnyugak Pavilion, as well as Ounjeong Pavilion.

The history of the Cheong Wa Dae site dates back to the 918-1392 Goryeo Kingdom when it was used for royal palace halls. During the Joseon era, it was a part of the rear garden of Gyeongbok Palace.

Under the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule, the Japanese governor-general's official residence was located there, while part of the Gyeongbok Palace grounds were used for the colonial government.

Exchange students from Yonsei University, who were selected as part of 74 public representatives, pose in front of the main office building at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps

When the South Korean government was established in 1948, then-President Syngman Rhee started using the site as the presidential office and residence, naming it "Gyeong Mu Dae." It was renamed "Cheong Wa Dae" for its blue roof tiles, symbolizing peace, in 1960 after the inauguration of then-President Yun Po-sun.

The southern hiking trails of Mount Bugak behind Cheong Wa Dae, some of which had been closed to the public after the 1968 infiltration of North Korean commandos who were on a failed mission to assassinate then-President Park Chung-hee, are additionally now open to the public along with today's opening of Cheong Wa Dae.

Visits to Cheong Wa Dae will be available until May 22 along with various celebratory events for the opening, and the new administration hasn't decided yet whether to continue the full opening or how to utilize the buildings and spaces there. Visit opencheongwadae.kr to make an online reservation to visit Cheong Wa Dae.

A person looks out over Gyeongbok Palace and downtown Seoul from Mount Bugak, Tuesday, as a hiking trail to the observatory was opened to the public following the relocation of the presidential office from Cheong Wa Dae. Yonhap