[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Follow in some famous footsteps at these presidential retreats

K-campus

Published: 12 May. 2023, 09:10

[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Follow in some famous footsteps at these presidential retreats

A walking course to Ogakjeong Pavilion is popular among tourists visiting Cheongnamdae in Cheongju, North Chungcheong. [BAEK JONG-HYUN]

Your definition of a weekend getaway may range from visiting a trendy cafe to exploring a cultural or historical site. For those who are up for the latter, a trip that involves stepping into the shoes of former Korean presidents might turn some heads.

Former presidents frequented both discreet and well-known vacation spots during their time away from office, some of which are now open to the public.

In fact, as long as you are willing to make some online reservations in advance, it is not too hard to see how a typical summer vacation might have been for former Korean leaders. Here are four presidential recommendations from the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Blue House (Cheongwadae)

A special event is held to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Blue House in Jongno District, central Seoul, opening to the public on May 10, 2023. [YONHAP]

The Blue House in Jongno District, central Seoul, is probably the first place that springs to mind when talking political locations. Used as the presidential office up to the inauguration of President Yoon Suk Yeol, former presidents spent their years of presidency at the Blue House. President Yoon moved his office to Yongsan District as he began his presidency and decided to open the Blue House to the public last year May 10.

As soon as the opening of the Blue House — Cheongwadae is its official Korean name — was announced, the idea of entering the heart of Korean politics quickly caught on. As a result, a million people visited during the first 22 days after the doors opened.

The main building attracts many people to take pictures as a means of capturing the experience. Foreign visitors are becoming more common as the pandemic era fades away.

A visit is free of charge, but all visitors must make an online reservation in order to enter the place, which allows for up to six individual visitors at a time. A bigger crowd needs to be registered as a group visit.

1 Cheongwadae-ro, Jongno District, central Seoul
Business hours: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Dec- Feb, 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m, final admission at 5:00 p.m.
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Free entrance
Phone number: 1522-7760
Website: https://www.opencheongwadae.kr/eng

Cheongnamdae

Cheongnamdae in Cheongju, North Chungcheong served as the presidential retreat for many former presidents of Korea. [BAEK JONG-HYUN]

The famous Blue House inspired several presidential retreats named after it. One popular example is Cheongnamdae in Cheongju, North Chungcheong.

Meaning the Blue House of the south, it served as a presidential retreat for numerous former presidents. Built in 1983, it accommodated important guests for nearly two decades until it was opened to the public in 2003, after just 20 years. The memorial hall displays objects used by former presidents including bikes, piano, clocks and things used for leisure and everyday life. Some presidents such as Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung used it as a second presidential office where they came up with some critical plans for the nation.

Cheongnamedae covers a large area that takes around six hours to thoroughly look around. It includes about 450 acres of land and contains leisurely venues apart from the main building, such as a golf course overlooking the beautiful view of Daecheong Lake, as well as a swimming pool, a pond and nine walking courses. When the weather is good, it is common to catch sight of family groups enjoying picnics or tourists strolling around the well-groomed gardens.

You can get tickets from Munui ticket office and take a bus to the complex every hour.

646, Cheongnamdae gil , Munui myeon , Sangdang District , Cheongju, North Chungcheong
Business hours: 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (Open up to 2023, 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. on Sat until May 27)
December to January, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Tickets sold until 1 hour 30 minutes before closing time
Closed every Monday during Jul-Aug, Dec-Mar, Jan 1, New Year’s Day, Chuseok
Phone number: 043) 257-5080
Admission fee: 6,000 won for ages 19-64, 4,000 won for ages 13-18 and those in military service, 3,000 won ages 7-12 and above 64. If you are using the bus, the ticket costs 3,000 won and the parking fee for individual vehicles is 2,000 won.
Website: https://chnam.chungbuk.go.kr/en/index.do (Change language settings to Korean for more details)

Jeo Island (Cheonghaedae)

A visitor leaves a mark on the beach of Jeo Island in Geoje, South Gyeongsang. [BAEK JONG-HYUN]

Jeo Island, located in Geoje in South Gyeongsang, is dubbed “Cheonghaedae.”

Meaning "the Blue House of the sea," a boat is required to reach the island. The island functioned perfectly as an isolated space for presidents during getaways.

President Park Chung Hee was fond of the spot and visited the island almost every year during his time in office (1963-1979). Jeo Island was sought after by the presidents as a vacation spot since 1954 and was designated as a presidential retreat in 1972. It was open to the public in September, 2019. President Park Geun-hye, daughter of Park Chung Hee, also chose Jeo Island as her first vacation destination in 2013.

Jeo Island in Geoje, South Gyeongsang, was opened to the public in September, 2019. [BAEK JONG-HYUN]

Getting to Jeo Island can be difficult, since the boat operates only twice a day from Gungnong Port. You can check availability through the official website and also get an online discount for reservations. The trip leads visitors around the island for an hour and 30 minutes. The main building and the military facilities stay closed, but you can explore the observatory deck, the beach and walking courses.

Yuho-ri, Jangmok-myeon, Geoje, South Gyeongsang
Business hours: Check the website for operating days. When in operation, the cruise takes off twice a day, each at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. (Closed on Wednesdays)
Admission Fee: only Jeo Island course available: 21,000 won from middle school students (19,000 won via online reservation), 15,000 won for children (24 months - elementary school students), free for below 24 months
Phone number: 1668-2240 / 055-636-7033
Website: http://jeodo.co.kr/

Rhee Syng-man Hwajinpo Memorial Hall

First president of Korea Syng-man Rhee spent his summers in his retreat, now operating as Rhee Syng-man Hwajinpo Memorial Hall, Goseong, Gangwon. [GOSEONG COUNTY]

The first president of Korea, Syngman Rhee, kept his retreat up north in Goseong, Gangwon. His summers were spent near the inter-Korean border since the cottage he stayed in was located on the northern end of Gangwon, one of the coolest regions in Korea. The small building was cleared away in 1960 but was rebuilt in its original form thirty years later. The official name is Rhee Syng-man Hwajinpo Memorial Hall. The building stands on a hill that overlooks the view of Hwajinpo Lake.

Kim Il Sung’s private holiday house, also called Castle at Hwajinpo, Goseong of Gangwon, is one of the three spots to visit for a weekend getaway around Hwajinpo. [JOONGANG ILBO]

The small site is one of three tourist stops nearby, the two others being Kim Il Sung’s private holiday house and Lee Ki-poong’s retreat. Kim Il Sung, the former North Korean leader, used a house — also called the Castle at Hwajinpo — from 1948 to 1950, when the Korean War broke out. Lee Ki-poong was a vice president and a supporter of Syngman Rhee.

33, Iseungmanbyeoljang-gil, Hyeonnae-myeon, Goseong, Gangwon

Learn more about Korean university life on K-campus.

BY BAEK JONG-HYUN, KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]