Blue House to be transformed into 'multi-purpose cultural complex'

Korean Heritage

Published: 21 Jul. 2022, 15:11 Updated: 24 Jul. 2022, 13:03

Blue House to be transformed into 'multi-purpose cultural complex'

Park Bo-gyoon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, gives a brief about major plans for his term to local press on Wednesday at the Government Complex in central Seoul, a day before he presented the plans to President Yoon Suk-yeol. [NEWS1]

From the second half of the year, the Blue House will be managed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and will be transformed into a “multi-purpose cultural complex,” announced Park Bo-gyoon, minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, on Thursday, as he briefed the major plans for his term to President Yoon Suk-yeol at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul. Currently, the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Secretary Office to the President manage the Blue House.

“It’s going a step further than allowing the public to tour around the Blue House as many are doing at the moment,” he said. “We plan to curate the space as a cultural and artistic space, rather than keeping it merely as a historical space that was once resided in by past presidents.”

According to the ministry, the Main Office Building and the Official Residence will be used as exhibition halls to display some 600 artworks the Blue House has in its collection. A sculpture park will be established in Nokjiwon, or the arboretum, which has about 50,000 trees.

“Simply put, it will be operated like the Palace of Versailles in France,” said Park. “The building itself will be preserved strictly but at the same time utilized as halls to exhibit great artworks that had been available to only a limited number of people.”

A special exhibit showcasing about half of the artworks in the collection will be organized, Park said. “The ministry will also organize performances on special occasions like the first anniversary of the opening of the Blue House.”

Regarding concerns from some experts that the site should be managed cautiously as a cultural heritage site rather than a tourist destination, Park said the culture ministry will collaborate closely with the Cultural Heritage Administration to make sure the significance of the site is emphasized in permanent exhibits and that the buildings are well preserved.

“Although the Blue House will become a multi-purpose cultural complex, it will never become a ‘playground’ for people to run around and freely eat and drink,” said Park. “That is why I continue to bring up the Palace of Versailles as an example.”

The minister also unveiled plans to support the country’s streaming services as well as original content.

“Korea has become a soft power powerhouse,” said Park. “Under President Yoon Suk-yeol’s government, we attempt to become a culturally attractive country and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will take the lead in making that possible.”

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]