Bukaksan Behind Blue House Fully Opened 24 Hours..."Further Openings Planned"

Presidential Security Service Implements "Open and Approachable Security" Principles
Six Visitor Information Centers to Resume Operations

The Presidential Security Service has decided to fully open access to the Bukaksan mountain trails behind the Blue House 24 hours a day in celebration of the new "Blue House era." This move is part of efforts to embody the principles of "open and approachable security," which have been consistently emphasized since the launch of the Sovereign Government. While security and guarding operations will remain in place, the aim is to ensure maximum convenience for the public’s daily life, rest, and use of the area.

On March 5, the Presidential Security Service announced that although the Bukaksan area is designated for safety management and security operations, there will no longer be any restrictions on visiting hours moving forward. In cooperation with the Capital Defense Command, strict security and guarding measures will continue to be maintained around the Blue House, but operations will be managed to avoid any inconvenience to citizens using these areas.

Efforts to protect and manage the Bukaksan area, as well as to enhance visitor convenience, will also be strengthened. Visitor information centers will resume operations to provide guidance, ensure safety, and run hiking programs. The National Heritage Administration will install and operate Bukaksan entrance information centers at six locations—Changuimun, Cheongundae, Gokjang, Sukjeongmun, Malbawi, and Samcheong—within this month.

Further opening initiatives are also planned. In the southwest section of Bukaksan, which is currently closed to the public—specifically in the direction of Cheongun-dong—a new 1.32-kilometer trail will be created, and the existing trails will be improved to expand public access. The Presidential Security Service is working with related agencies on preparations such as trail maintenance, wildfire prevention, and security measures, and aims to complete all preparations for additional openings by the second half of this year.

On December 29, 2025, as President Lee Jae-myung commuted to the Blue House, marking the official start of the Blue House era again after 3 years and 7 months, the Phoenix flag was raised at the Blue House in Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

The Security Service regards this measure as more than simply opening a hiking trail; it sees it as a symbolic shift in the security paradigm. Hwang In-kwon, Chief of the Presidential Security Service, stated, "Opening Bukaksan to the public at any time in the new Blue House era is a symbolic move to put the principles of 'open and approachable security' into practice on the ground." He added, "By securing hiking trails that do not interfere with Blue House security operations, we will continue to respect the daily lives and spaces of the public and pursue a security paradigm that breathes together with the people."

This initiative is expected to further expand public access to the Blue House grounds. In the past, Bukaksan has been a representative site with symbolic value, scenic views, and historical significance, but access and use have been subject to restrictions due to security and safety concerns.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.