President’s retreat goes public

President Roh Moo-hyun yesterday handed over the presidential retreat, Cheongnamdae, to the general public. Ownership of the 20-year-old rural estate was transferred to North Chungcheong province. Mr. Roh called it a recovery of civil rights.
“The beauty of Cheongnamdae is such that anybody would want to own it, and some argue, a president deserves it. But it has caused problems for nearby residents, so it is only fair that I return it to you,” Mr. Roh said in a ceremony that included 1,000 residents and officials.
“I hope it will contribute to the North Chungcheong province’s finances,” he said.
Kim Jin-pyo, the deputy prime minister for finance and economy and Lee Won-jong, governor of North Chung-cheong province, signed the papers formalizing the handover.
The governor, however, has offered Mr. Roh use of the retreat, claiming it would boost the province’s tourism revenue. During his meeting with political leaders on Thursday, Mr. Roh said that he would like to convene meetings at Cheongnamdae from time to time.
The sprawling grounds, which cover 1.78 million square meters (19.2 million square feet), are located near Daecheong lake, in Munui-myeon, Cheongwon County, North Chungcheong province. Built in 1983 during former President Chun Doo Hwan’s administration, it had served as the former presidents’ summer retreat. The return was Mr. Roh’s pledge to the province’s residents, who have complained about inconveniences due to the retreat’s restriction on development.
Cheongnamdae, which means south of the Blue House, will be fully open to the general public, starting Tuesday and is expected receive up to 800 visitors a day. Applications for visits must be filed through the Internet at www.cb21.net.
Foreign visitors must be escorted by a Korean. “Applications in foreign languages are not ready yet,” a provincial government official said.

by Kim Ji-soo