Presidential Archives

The Presidential Archives in Eojin-dong, Sejong, is the national body that preserves the records, policy documents and event materials of Korea's presidents. Its Presidential Archives Exhibition Hall puts part of that collection on public display, from a presidential car to a recreation of the president's office at Cheong Wa Dae, making it a good stop in Sejong for families. Admission is free.

About the archives

The Presidential Archives was set up in 2007 under the law on the management of presidential records. It was first based in Seongnam, moved its records to a new building in Sejong in 2015 and held its official opening here in 2016. Today it is an agency under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

The exhibition building is a cube modelled on the box used to store the national seal, a symbol of the completeness and permanence of presidential records. The exhibitions run from the basement to the 4th floor; the suggested route is to start on the ground floor, go up to the 4th floor and then work your way down.

How presidential records are kept

The Presidential Archives collects, classifies and preserves presidential records and handles public access, exhibitions and education. It also reclassifies records marked secret or closed and lifts the special protection on records a president designated as protected. Walking through the exhibition, you get a natural sense of how a country's decisions are written down and passed on. Record-culture classes for school groups run from March to December.

What to see

• Presidential state car: Just inside the entrance stands the presidential car used from 1992 to 2009. Having been part of many historic moments, it is the most popular photo spot.
• Portraits of the presidents: Large artworks that form each president's face out of keywords taken from their inaugural speeches. Read the words and you can see which values each era emphasised.
• Presidential spaces (3rd floor): Realistic recreations of the president's office, the reception room and Chunchugwan, the press briefing room at Cheong Wa Dae. You can sit in the president's chair or pose at the podium.
• Records: Displays of records from each term, policy-making documents and materials from major events show how the business of state is documented.
• Children's Experience Hall (basement): Children aged 5 to 13 can design an election poster or an inauguration stamp. Reservations are required.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: 10:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30), free admission. Closed every Monday and on public holidays, except Children's Day, and on other days set by the archives, so check the official website before you go.
• Guided tours: Three Korean-language tours a day (10:00, 14:00, 15:30), each for up to 15 people, with fewer in July and August. They start on time, so arrive 10 minutes early.
• Time needed: Allow 60–90 minutes for the exhibitions, or about 2 hours with the children's hall.
• Combine with: The Sejong National Arboretum is close by, making an easy half-day trip.
• Getting there: The address is 250 Dasom-ro, Eojin-dong, Sejong, in the new city centre near the Government Complex Sejong.