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!
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.
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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