Cheong Wa Dae closed to public for maintenance ahead of Lee’s return to historic presidential office

Visitors stand in front of Cheong Wa Dae's entrance in Seoul, Thursday, a day before the historic compound closed to the public for maintenance in preparation to house the presidential office. Yonhap

Cheong Wa Dae, Korea’s historic presidential compound commonly known as the Blue House, officially closed its doors to the public on Friday, as preparations begin for President Lee Jae Myung’s planned return to the site later this year.

The Cheong Wa Dae Foundation, responsible for public operations of the compound under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, announced that all tours and public entry have been fully suspended starting Friday to allow for comprehensive security and safety inspections, as well as facility maintenance.

The closure follows more than three years of public access, which saw the landmark transformed from the nation’s seat of power into a Seoul tourist destination.

Cheong Wa Dae first opened to the public in May 2022 under former President Yoon Suk Yeol, drawing 8.52 million visitors in the period since.

At the time, Yoon’s transition committee had ambitious expectations for visitor numbers and economic impact, estimating that the opening of Cheong Wa Dae would generate an economic ripple effect of approximately 200 billion won ($142.9 million) annually, although no specific visitor target was publicly set.

“This is a necessary step to ensure the site is ready to safely house the presidential office and residence once again,” the foundation said. “While we plan to resume some public access in the future, no date has been set.”

An aerial view of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul's Jongno District, Wednesday / Yonhap

Lee, who took office in June, had made returning the presidential office to Cheong Wa Dae one of his core campaign promises. Immediately after his inauguration, Lee conducted presidential duties from a temporary office in Yongsan, citing the need for urgent repairs at Cheong Wa Dae — which he has repeatedly called “a space of deep symbolism and cultural value.”

He has also voiced concerns over the security vulnerabilities of the Yongsan office, pointing to its exposure and proximity to surrounding apartment complexes as potential risks for surveillance and safety.

In June, the government allocated a budget of 25.9 million won for the necessary security upgrades and restorations, aiming to complete the work by the end of this year. The sum marks a significant reduction compared to the cost associated with the previous relocation of the presidential office to Yongsan.

Over the past three years, Cheong Wa Dae has been a popular tourist destination but access was gradually restricted in recent weeks as Lee’s return became imminent. Since July 16, only limited outdoor access had been permitted, with daily visitors capped at 2,000 and major internal routes already closed.

For more than 70 years, Cheong Wa Dae has been the symbolic heart of Korean leadership, housing 12 former presidents until 2022.

The government said it will consider reopening parts of the complex to the public once facility upgrades and safety checks are complete, although a timeline has not yet been provided.