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| Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Park Bo-gyoon, fourth from right, poses with other participants in a ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Wednesday, to launch a project to turn the former presidential office compound into a tourism landmark. Yonhap |
By Lee Hae-rin
Korea declared Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential office and residence, as well as the neighboring area as the country's tourism landmark and announced 10 walking courses of diverse themes based on the region's historical and cultural assets, Wednesday.
Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Park Bo-gyoon held a ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae with a dozen cultural figures from all walks of life in Korea.
"Cheong Wa Dae is an attractive tourist site where the (country's) presidential history, arts and culture, nature and cultural heritage coexist," the minister said, explaining that the venue features 600 art pieces and 50,000 trees, as well as the best lawn in the country.
The ministry will work on adding the former presidential compound to world travelers' "bucket list of travel destinations," with the help of the cultural personalities who attended the event, Park said.
The 10 walking courses presented by the ministry feature themes varying from Joseon royal culture, architecture, literature and mountain climbing to pop culture and the arts. The courses revolve around nearby Mount Bugak and Mount Inwang, museums in the neighboring Gyeongbok Palace and culinary, gallery and hanok districts to the west and east of the former presidential compound.
The attendees presented on diverse assets of the area as a tourist destination based on the suggested courses.
One of the cultural figures present was veteran cartoonist Huh Young-man who authored the culinary series "Sikgaek." He touted the area as the "gastronomic epicenter of Seoul," where visitors can try various Korean traditional delicacies.
Mountaineer Um Hong-gil said, "Seoul is the only metropolis in the world where people can go hiking within 10 minutes of walking from the city center." He recommended the hiking courses of Mount Bugak, standing behind Cheong Wa Dae and Mount Inwang to the west, and said the views from the peaks of the city and even the river will give unforgettable memories to travelers.
Julian Quintart, a Belgian-born media personality in Korea who has been in the industry since 2005, said not only young K-pop fans but a growing diversity and generations of foreign visitors have grown their interest in Korea and wish to visit the country. "The Cheong Wa Dae area will provide them an all-in-one travel experience with rich historical, political, cultural, culinary and natural resources," Quintart said.
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| People approach the main gate of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, May 10, 2022, during a celebratory event to mark the full opening of the former presidential office and residence. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
Cheong Wa Dae had been the site of the presidential office and residence since the Korean government was established in 1948 until May 10, 2022, in time for the inauguration of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon had promised to open the compound to the public, calling it a symbol of Korea's past "imperial" presidencies. The presidential office was relocated to the former defense ministry building in Yongsan District.
According to the culture ministry, the compound saw over 3.2 million visitors since opening last last May. The number of visitors reached its peak during the first month with 574,380 but the figure waned steadily to 153,978 last month. This month, 131,836 people have visited the compound as of Monday.
Yoon's presidential transition committee had estimated last year the economic ripple effect of the opening of Cheong Wa Dae to reach 200 billion won ($151 million) annually, but the government has never made any follow-up reports.
The culture ministry plans to invite foreign nationals residing and studying in Korea to a set of guided tours based on the 10 walking courses this year. Based on their feedback, the programs will be developed into travel packages, which will later be promoted via Korean Cultural Centers and Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) branches abroad.
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