Blue House

Blue House Highlights: Must-See Features and Attractions

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Cheong Wa Dae is the South Korean presidential office. It is located to the north of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Cheong Wa Dae is a complex of buildings mixing modern and ancient styles. The buildings have upward curved tiled roofs with 150,000 blue roof tiles. The unique buildings of Cheong Wa Dae include the Main Office, the Spring and Autumn Pavilion (Chunchugwan), the Guest House (Yeongbingwan), the Green Garden (Nokjiwon) and the Seven Palaces. The appearance of these buildings vary in style. Cheong Wa Dae can be toured with a guide at fixed times. The tour guide can explain the different parts of the building and give you a better understanding of its history and unique form.

The Blue House in South Korea | One Blue House, half of Korean history

🌟 Highlights: The most notable feature of the Blue House, the political center of South Korea, is its blue tiles. Some also call the Blue House the "Blue Palace," as it is the official residence and political hub of the President of the Republic of Korea. The first thing you see upon arriving at the Blue House is the blue tiles of the main building. The main building of the Blue House is backed by Bukhansan Mountain, and the blue tiles complement the curved roofline, making it very beautiful. ❤ Recommended Reason: The green lawns and endless flower gardens here are great for strolling and also where presidents plant commemorative trees. The most famous is a pine tree with a history of about 300 years. The endless flower garden is a great spot for tourists to take photos, especially during the blooming season from July to October, which is even more colorful. In addition, there are many items on display in the annex that were gifts from foreign friends to the president. Visiting here is free, and you can also buy souvenirs of the Blue House at the souvenir counter. Moreover, do not forget to visit Chilgung, which consists of seven palaces from the Joseon era with traditional styles and elegant courtyards. 👍 Most Recommended: Spring and Autumn Hall, Green Garden, Jingwu Squad 📍 Address: Hyoja-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Special City, South Korea (1 Cheongwadae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul Special City, South Korea) 🕙 Business Hours: Open all year from 7:00 to 19:00, free admission, reserve 2 hours for a visit 🚉 Transportation Strategy: Take Subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station, exit from Exit 4, and walk for about 10 minutes ⏳ Historical Evolution: The Blue House is located in Seoul, South Korea, and the buildings in this place are not just the Blue House. Throughout Korean history, many buildings have appeared here, and the Blue House is just a part of them. Originally, this was a detached palace of the Goryeo Dynasty. Later, other buildings appeared here, and the Blue House has only been around in recent years. Let's take a look at what buildings have been established in the Blue House area and what kind of history they have. Why can it be said to encompass half of Korean history? In 1104, the Goryeo Dynasty built a detached palace in the area of today's Blue House. The so-called detached palace is simply the palace where the emperor stayed after leaving the main palace, a temporary residence for the emperor. At that time, the Goryeo kings often stayed here, and it was of great significance to the Goryeo royal family. However, this was only a temporary residence for the Goryeo kings and not the political center of Goryeo. Its influence was not particularly significant. This place became a political center during the Joseon Dynasty, which is what we refer to as the Joseon Dynasty. In 1392, Lee Seong-gye overthrew the Goryeo Dynasty and established a new regime, which was the Joseon Dynasty. In 1395, Lee Seong-gye began to build his own palace, and the area of today's Blue House was where his Gyeongbokgung Palace was built. The name "Blue House" is closely related to Gyeongbokgung Palace at that time, which I will explain later. After establishing the Joseon Dynasty, Lee Seong-gye sent envoys to the Ming Dynasty to pay homage to the Ming emperor. Eventually, the Ming Taizu granted the name "Joseon" to this place, and Joseon became a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. The Joseon monarch was not only the ruler of Joseon but also a minister of the Ming Dynasty, equivalent to the rank of a prince. For this reason, when the Joseon kings built their palaces, they were constructed according to the standards of Ming princes. All buildings were painted in vermilion to distinguish them from the yellow used exclusively by the royal family of our country. After the establishment of Gyeongbokgung Palace, this place became the residence and office of the Joseon monarch, thus becoming the political center of Joseon. 📝tips: In autumn, the fallen leaves add a romantic touch. On the other side, there are modern art galleries such as Geumho and famous coffee shops with rich aromas. To appreciate the night scenery, the best place is the restaurants here. The interior decoration of the restaurants is very modern, including a glass wall that allows a clear view of the stone walls of Gyeongbokgung Palace and the beautiful sky. Going from here, before reaching the Blue House, there is Samcheong-dong Park, which has many famous restaurants, Korean food restaurants, and art galleries. There is also a small shop specializing in sujebi soup, which is the most famous snack here. Past this, at the end of the road is Samcheong Park. There are many trees here, making it very suitable for walking. When visiting the Blue House, be sure not to forget to take a stroll on this path. The environment is beautiful and is the most characteristic place in Korea.

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