Cheongnamdae

On the shore of Daecheong Lake, Cheongnamdae served as the presidents' private retreat for twenty years from 1983 before opening to the public in 2003. Its name means the Blue House of the warm south, and spacious gardens, pine-lined avenues and a pavilion overlooking the lake make it a place for both modern history and a long lakeside walk.

History: from presidential retreat to public garden

Construction began in June 1983 under President Chun Doo-hwan and finished that December. Originally called Yeongchunjae, it was renamed Cheongnamdae in 1986. Together with Cheonghaedae on Jeodo island near Geoje, it served as the official presidential villa, and plans drawn up by presidents on holiday here even gave rise to the phrase 'the Cheongnamdae plan'. Before it opened, five presidents stayed here a total of 88 times. President Roh Moo-hyun decided to open it, and on 18 April 2003 it welcomed the public, with management handed to North Chungcheong Province.

What to see

• Main building: the heart of the retreat, where the presidents and their families stayed. The lawns and landscaping in front still convey the atmosphere of its villa years.
• Presidential Memorial Hall: records, gifts and stories of the presidents and of Cheongnamdae.
• Ogakjeong: a five-sided pavilion built with the main building, the best viewpoint over Daecheong Lake through the pines.
• Walking trails: several routes named after presidents and themes, such as the Ogakjeong path, the lakeside path and the pine-breeze path. The shortest take about 20 minutes, the lakeside path about 90.
• Gardens: an approach lined with rounded umbrella pines, a fish pond and seasonal flowers and trees, plus villa facilities such as a golf course and helipad.

Good to know

• The well-preserved grounds are home to otters, a protected Natural Monument, as well as flying squirrels, wild boar, water deer and raccoon dogs, and migratory birds visit too.
• The Yeongchunje flower festival is held in spring and a chrysanthemum festival in autumn; Yeongchun echoes the retreat's first name.
• The grounds have appeared in a number of TV dramas.

Nearby

• Daecheong Dam: about 1.6 km away, with the Water Culture Center and an observatory offering a different view of the lake.
• Cheongnamdae Provisional Government Memorial Hall: about 450 m away and easy to include.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: 09:00–18:00 from February to November (last tickets 16:30) and 09:00–17:00 in December and January (last tickets 15:30). Closed on Mondays (the next weekday if Monday is a holiday), 1 January and on Seollal and Chuseok days.
• Admission: adults KRW 6,000, teenagers and soldiers KRW 4,000, children and seniors KRW 3,000. Car parking costs KRW 2,000.
• Getting there: the address is 646 Cheongnamdae-gil, Munui-myeon, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju. Regular bus service has effectively ended, so a car is the realistic option; at weekends the Cheongju City Tour runs a Cheongnamdae course from Osong Station and elsewhere (admission extra). It is about 12 km from the Munui crossroads.
• Booking: the reservation system has changed in the past, so check the official website before you go.
• Time needed: allow 2 hours for the basic route, or about 4 hours with the trails.