Koreans take advantage of the opportunity to visit the Blue House before it welcomes the new President.

The Blue House in August 2010. (Photo Wikipedia)

For more than 70 years, the Blue House in Seoul has been one of the most secretive places in South Korea. Located in a secluded, tightly controlled location, it was once the residence of the South Korean president. Only close confidants or special international delegates were allowed in. Passersby could only see rows of houses with distinctive blue-tiled roofs, modeled after traditional Korean architecture - hence the name "Blue House".

Previously largely closed to the public, the mansion was shrouded in secrecy and became a symbol of the power and majesty of the South Korean government . Historical events such as the 1968 Blue House break-in added to its mystique and intrigue.

Although the Blue House is considered a symbol of power in South Korea, former President Yoon Suk-yeol decided not to work in this building, but to move to a new headquarters in Yongsan District. Some sources said that the reason was due to "feng shui issues". Therefore, from 2022, this place will be open to visitors in the form of guided tours and reservations.

The Blue House will open to visitors in May 2022. (Photo: AFP)

During his election campaign, Mr. Lee pledged to return to this place if he took power.

"Moving into the Blue House is traditional, symbolic and also the best choice."
New President Lee Jae-myung

After being elected president earlier this month, new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung announced that he would move into the Blue House, three years after the building was turned into a public tour site.

Official figures show that the number of visitors to the Blue House jumped to 427,000 in May, double the number from the same month last year. In total, more than 7.8 million people, including 800,000 foreigners, have visited the Blue House since it opened to the public in May 2022.