'Cyan-tile Pavilion'), also known as the Blue House in English, is a public park that formerly served as the presidential residence and the diplomatic reception halls of South Korea from 1948 to 2022.
However, during the reign of King Gojong, Gyeongbokgung was rebuilt under the leadership of Heungseon Daewongun, and a support was built outside the Sinmumun Gate and in the current Cheong Wa Dae.
[6][7] The wartime evacuation facility built by Park Chung Hee in 1975 was repaired in 2003 to create a room (underground bunker) for the National Crisis Management Centre.
[9] Kim Dae Jung also pushed for a plan to set up offices at the Seoul and Gwacheon Government Complex but stopped due to security and cost problems.
[9] During the Lee Myung-bak administration, the relocation of the secretary's and security's office was also considered, but it was suspended due to costs and approval needed by the National Assembly.
Moon Jae-In made President Gwanghwamun a presidential election pledge, but after taking office, it was canceled due to security and cost issues.
[9] On March 20, 2022, President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol announced that he would take office on May 10 in the Ministry of National Defense building in the Yongsan District of Seoul, and open the Blue House to the public as a park.
[14][15][16] In December 2024, after the impeachment of President Yoon, there have been increasing calls to restore Cheong Wa Dae as the presidential office and official residence.
At the time of the Japanese colonial era, the site area of the Governor-General's office was 644,337 m2, but after liberation, it was reduced to 230,980 m2, and then increased to the current level with the expansion of related buildings and facilities such as security.
From December 2007 to February 2008, the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation covered the leaders of the Roh Moo Hyun government who were about to retire and made the last 100 days of the regime a documentary about Cheong Wa Dae.
The capacity is about 250 people, but there are no separate accommodations and not enough decorations or facilities to feel Korean style; it is close to a huge banquet hall used as a venue for luncheon.
[25] Since then, it has been argued that the space for events in the Blue House is not suitable for the national status, and construction of the current guesthouse on the old site of Gyeongnongjae, which was built to encourage farming during the Joseon period, began in January 1978.
[25] The old residence (Korean: 청와대 대통령 관저; Hanja: 靑瓦臺 大統領 官邸; RR: Cheong-wadae Daetongnyeong Gwanjeo) was completed in 1990 as the place where the president lived with his family.
Lee Myung-bak had also released images related to family life, and while president, Moon Jae-in made several public appearances on his way to work at the entrance of his official residence.
Meanwhile, Choi Kyu-hah and Park Geun-hye stepped down before a successor was decided, both of whom stayed at Cheong Wa Dae for a few more days after their presidential terms ended.
The layout included a main building for living space, an annex for hosting events, and the creation of traditional-style gardens and men's quarters in the front yard.
[38] Sangchunjae (Korean: 상춘재; Hanja: 常春齋) is a traditional hanok located behind Nokjiwon, the garden of Cheong Wa Dae, and is used for foreign guests.
Since the Roh Moo Hyun administration, security measures have strengthened, resulting in a complete ban on reporters accessing the Blue House grounds; it can only be covered by the Spring and Autumn Hall.
Under a press pool system, representatives cover events and share content, imposing significant restrictions on Cheong Wa Dae coverage.
In addition, a stone wall 30m long and 3m high is located at the site of the grand banquet hall in Angana-dong, where Park Chung Hee was assassinated.
In the wake of the January 21 incident, the north of Chilgung Palace was demolished to create a road; it was a habitual traffic accident area, but it was also aimed at strengthening the security of the Blue House.
Secret meetings known as the "Seobyeolgwan Conference" were frequently held within the Blue House due to its secure location and lack of access records, maintaining confidentiality.
[47] Controversy escalated when during an annex meeting, 4.2 trillion won worth of funding was given by the Park Geun-hyen government as a way to the support Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.
In 2009, there were suspicions that executives of three mobile carriers, SK Telecom, LG Uplus, and KT, were invited to contribute a large amount of funds, and a secret meeting attended by policy advisers such as defense, administrative safety, unification, and foreign trade was also held at Yeonpungmun.
[52] After the inauguration of the Lee Myung-bak government, the existing information room, which had few convenience facilities other than two sofas, was extensively constructed to take its current shape.
Originally, this location was the presidential chief of staff's official residence, but when the front road of the Blue House was opened in February 1996, it was changed into a complex cultural space to provide convenience and attractions for the people.
This view was backed up by an inscription on a stone wall that reads: "The Most Blessed Place on Earth", found behind the official presidential residence during the construction of a new building in 1990.
According to legend, when the Japanese military evacuated the Blue House, they destroyed the local feng shui, causing all subsequent South Korean presidents to be cursed and have a bad end.
[60][61] Excluding acting presidents, among the 13 South Korean presidents, 4 were prosecuted and jailed after leaving office (Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo, Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye); 3 stepped down due to civil movements or coups (Syngman Rhee, Yun Po-sun, Choi Kyu-hah); 1 was assassinated in office (Park Chung Hee); 1 chose to commit suicide after leaving office due to investigation (Roh Moo-hyun); while two survived the presidency and are not prosecuted (Kim Young-sam, Kim Dae-jung), they were sometimes included in the list because their children were jailed for corruption;[62][63] Moon Jae-in is under investigation for his former son-in-law's bribery;[64] Yoon Suk Yeol has moved out of the Blue House while in office,[65] but he is being impeached by the National Assembly due to political disputes and the sudden declaration of martial law.
These include the abuse of power due to excessive power in personnel appointments and dismissals and lack of checks and balances; South Korea's chaebols have given rise to crony capitalism and close ties between government and business, which has easily led to corruption; the single-term presidential system often makes his government a lame duck, and when the president's influence wanes, it is easy for prosecutors and investigative agencies to obtain evidence; serious party struggles; and even successive presidents will pursue the crimes of their predecessor.