Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House)
청와대
A former presidential compound behind Gyeongbokgung. Check the official presidential website before planning a visit because public access can change with government use.
Language
Place information
- Korean name
- 청와대
- Address
- 1 Cheongwadae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Hours notes
- Not open. Public visiting was suspended on 1 August 2025 for a security and facilities review ahead of the presidential office returning to the site, and had not resumed as of August 2026. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on 10 September 2025 that both the direction of any resumption and the future of the foundation that ran the tours were still under discussion, and gave no date. There is no booking channel: opencheongwadae.kr does not answer, cheongwadae.go.kr now resolves to a CDN edge serving a certificate for a different name, and the presidential website carries no visiting section at all.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
Nearby
Samcheongdong Sujebi
A Samcheong-dong sujebi house open since 1982, served alongside its potato pancake.
National Folk Museum of Korea
Attached to Gyeongbokgung's north-east side, and about ordinary households rather than the court. Its hours split by season — November to February it shuts an hour earlier — so a winter afternoon spent on the palace first leaves too little for it.
Tongin Market Dosirak Cafe
The Tongin Market cafe where brass coins buy side dishes from the stalls into a lunchbox. It is what most visitors to the market actually come for.
Tongin Market
Plan around the lunchbox cafe rather than the market: it closes on Tuesdays and stops selling tokens well before the market itself shuts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still go to the area around Cheongwadae?
The surrounding roads and nearby attractions are a separate matter. How far into the grounds anyone may go is outside what this article verified, so follow on-site signage anywhere adjoining the complex.
What should I see instead?
Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon Hanok Village and Jongmyo Shrine are all within walking distance of each other and all publish their opening information.
Stories about this place
- Four Places in Seoul Where the Name Misleads: Gwangjang, the Noryangjin Auction, Lotte World and Cheongwadae
Gwangjang, the Noryangjin auction, Lotte World and Cheongwadae, set out by what the name points at and what you actually arrive at. Gwangjang's food alley trades five hours later than the market, the 3,000-won gap between two Lotte World tickets is a museum, and Cheongwadae is currently closed to visitors.
Nearby Food
- Five Seoul Korean Barbecue Restaurants: Hanwoo, Galbi, Bulgogi and Pork Belly
- What the broth is made of — eight Seoul houses, seven different bases
- Northern Korean Food in Seoul: Naengmyeon, Eobok-jaengban, Mandu and Kongbiji
- Seven Seoul houses that open for breakfast — before eight in the morning
- Six Seoul houses that make the noodle by hand — kalguksu, guksi, sujebi
- Enjoying Seoul's Cafe Culture
Travel Guides
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- Gyeongbokgung: The Main Palace of Joseon
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