Thursday, May 23, 2013

Seoul Day 4 - Spotting high ranking officials at Cheongwadae (Blue House)


After my morning stroll within the Gyeongbokgung Palace grounds, I headed on straight to Cheongwadae. Commonly referred to as the Blue House, this structure has over 150,000 traditional Korean blue roof tiles. Known for their regal color and intense durability, these tiles will last for over 100 years without fading or cracking. Simply amazing!

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view of Cheongwadae at the foot of Mt. Bugaksan


This structure is very important to Korean modern society. Why, you ask? It’s no less than the office and official residence of South Korea’s president. As the seat of power, this whole area is heavily guarded by the combined forces of the military and police. You will really feel the presence of security in this place as well as in the nearby vicinity.

It’s very easy to get here as well. Simply head on over to the northern gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace and you will spot this place. As this was the case, it was very interesting to find the traditional and modern seats of power adjacent to each other.

Cheongwadae offers guided tours in its premises. You just have to register in advance. Unfortunately, there was an ongoing political affair when I went here. So, the nearest I can get was just until the main gate. Nevertheless, I took the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the place from the outside.

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As there was a political event, there were so many VIPs coming from and going into Cheongwadae in their dignified vehicles. Too bad I was too far to identify who they were. It was actually a sight to behold.

My short visit to this place was a pleasant experience. Perhaps next time I can pick a day where the tours are offered to get more of a detailed feel of Cheongwadae from the inside.

Have any of you been into Cheongwadae? Tell me about your experience by commenting below or using the Contact button on the right. I would really like to know more about this place from others.

Up next, learning political history in Sarangchaeat Cheongwadae President Museum.

Want to discover more about my 5 Days and 4 Nights in Seoul, South Korea? Just click the link.

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