"This might be my last time at the Blue House"
As news spreads that public tours of the Blue House will soon end,
citizens are flocking to seize their final chance to visit.
Citizens lined up in long queues on the 13th to see Cheongwadae before the viewing period ended. Photo by Byun Seonjin
원본보기 아이콘On Friday, the 13th, Kim Yunmok (69) and Jang Deokja (68), a couple from Jincheon, Chungbuk, arrived at the Blue House early in the morning.
Jang expressed surprise, saying, "It's a weekday, but the Blue House is this crowded. If we had come on the weekend, we might not have been able to get in."
On this day, a queue about 300 meters long stretched from the main gate to the Chunchumun entrance an hour before tours began,
and a staff member guiding visitors said, "More than 2,000 people were already waiting before the opening time."
The Blue House returns to being the president's office
Starting in August, public tours of the Blue House will be suspended.
The Blue House, which was opened to the public in May 2022 with the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration,
will be converted back into a space for national administration following the confirmation of President Lee Jaemyung's return to the presidential office.
One citizen said, "It's disappointing that tours are ending,"
"I hope that, for the sake of communication with the public, tours could be allowed even just a few times a year," they added.
People flocking from all over the country
Crowds of citizens filled every major space, from the main building to the Yeongbingwan and Chunchugwan.
Kim Doohong (22) from Ulsan said, "I thought I might not get another chance to see the Blue House,
so I came up alone just a few days before enlisting in the military."
Yoon Jihoo (32) said, "The scenery is truly beautiful.
The line was long, but it was definitely worth the wait," expressing satisfaction.
Long waits required for the main building tour
Visitors had to wait at least 90 minutes in line to see the interior of the Blue House main building, which served as the president's office.
Yoo Jingu (41), who visited with his family, said, "I took a day off work to come here for the first time,
and I think it will be a wonderful memory for my children in the future."
However, some citizens were unable to get inside due to the long lines.
Park Okbun (72) from Suncheon, Jeonnam, said, "It's a pity, but I'm trying to be satisfied just seeing it from the outside."
Foreign tourists join the 'final Blue House tour'
It wasn't just Korean citizens among the visitors.
Chaiyaphon (50), who came with family from Thailand, asked a reporter to take a photo and said,
"In such a beautiful and peaceful place, it's only natural that good policies would be made."
Madison Clark (29), a U.S. citizen, also shared, "I was impressed that Korea shares such an important place as the Blue House with its people."
Local businesses revived by the Blue House
The area around the Blue House is also seeing a boost in business.
An employee at a local cafe said, "Weekday mornings used to be quiet, but these days, orders have increased by more than 50%."
Yoon Jinok (70), who runs a gimbap shop, said, "If government employees start coming here for lunch,
it would be a huge help for us," expressing hope.
Visitor numbers on the rise again
Citizens are lined up in long queues to tour the Blue House main building, with a sign indicating an expected wait time of 90 minutes. Photo by Byun Seonjin
원본보기 아이콘According to the Blue House Foundation, the average monthly number of visitors was 340,000 in 2022, the year the Blue House first opened to the public.
However, in 2023, that number dropped to 170,000, and last year it fell further to 160,000.
Then, in April of this year, following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, the number of visitors suddenly surged to 260,000.
In May, 420,000 people visited, and as of the 12th of this month, more than 200,000 citizens had already come to the Blue House.
A Blue House Foundation official said, "With tours set to be suspended starting in August due to security checks,
citizens are continuing to rush in, not wanting to miss their last opportunity."
As the Blue House prepares to once again become the center of national administration,
people are making their final visits to capture the historic site in their eyes and hearts.
With little time remaining, if you plan to visit, you should hurry.
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Reporter Byun Seonjin sj@asiae.co.kr
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Edit Hur Eunmi eungmimon@asiae.co.kr
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