Lectures, tea, free calendars available at the Blue House during Lunar New Year

Tourists look around the Blue House, or the former presidential residence and office, in Jongno District, central Seoul [YONHAP]

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will hold a slew of cultural events at the former presidential house during the upcoming Lunar New Year, it announced Monday.

Experts on the Blue House from various fields such as culture and history will host a talk concert at the Blue House's Chunchugwan building every day from Feb. 9 to 11 between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. per the ministry. Chunchugwan serves as a space for the media and press.

Kyonggi University architecture professor Ahn Chang-mo will discuss the Blue House's construction on Friday, historian Choi Tae-sung will talk about the Blue House's history on Saturday, and Kyungpook National University professor emeritus Park Sang-jin will lecture on the significance of the Blue House and its public opening on Sunday.

The Blue House opened to the public two years ago. The presidential office has since been moved to Yongsan District, central Seoul.

The Culture Ministry is also offering tea classes and mingling opportunities twice a day, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., during the same period. Participants will be paired up, learn about Korea's tea culture and send each other good wishes for the new year.

Koreans and foreigners as well as children are welcome to attend, the ministry said.

It also plans to hand out Blue-House-themed calendars as souvenirs to the first 400 visitors to facility from Friday to Monday. Those whose zodiac sign is a dragon can also receive a free calendar, which is available for the first 100 visitors who present their IDs at the Blue House's information center each day during the four-day holiday.

Sign-ups for Blue House's Lunar New Year events are available on opencheongwadae.kr/eng

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]