Following a three-year run and attracting 8.5 million visitors, Cheong Wa Dae, the South Korean presidential residence, shuts its doors to the general public.
Cheong Wa Dae, the iconic symbol of South Korea's state power and political history, closed its doors to the public on Friday as preparations began to return the presidential office and residence to its formal function.
Since its opening to the public in May 2022, over 8.52 million visitors had toured the historic building, a number that surged by more than 240 percent compared to the same period last year in the 40 days following the election of President Lee Jae-myung.
The surge in visitor numbers occurred after President Lee made returning to Cheong Wa Dae a key objective. The office had been operating temporarily from Yongsan due to urgent repairs needed at Cheong Wa Dae and concerns over security vulnerabilities at the temporary site.
President Yoon Suk Yeol relocated the presidential office to Yongsan in 2022, and the closure of Cheong Wa Dae marks the beginning of its restoration. The government allocated funds for security upgrades in June 2022, with plans to complete the work by year's end; the restoration process began in August 2022 following the closure to the public.
The transition will focus on upgrading security systems and facilities to ensure the safety of the president and the public. After the transition, some areas of Cheong Wa Dae may reopen for limited public access. The exact date for the presidential move-in to Cheong Wa Dae after its closure for upgrading security and facilities is aimed to be by the end of 2025, but no exact date has been announced yet.
Cheong Wa Dae was established in 1948 and served as the executive office and official residence of South Korea's presidents for over 70 years, housing 12 former presidents. The Cheong Wa Dae Foundation manages the building, a body established under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
As the restoration progresses, the people of South Korea eagerly await the return of their president to the historic building that represents the heart of their government.
War-and-conflicts reporting might fluctuate as Cheong Wa Dae, South Korea's emblem of state power and political history, undergoes restoration, potentially affecting policy-and-legislation discussions. General-news coverage could include updates on this historic building's restoration process, its consequences on the presidential office's operations, and any changes in public access.
