Visitors admire the view of Lake Daecheongho from the first observatory, the terminal point of the monorail. [Photo=Joint Press Corps]

Cheongju is blessed with good water. The drinking water is excellent, and the water to behold is also magnificent. It was for this reason that King Sejong the Great, captivated by the medicinal spring here, built Chojong Royal Villa, and President Chun Doo-hwan, enamored with the lakeside, built Cheongnamdae, the presidential retreat.

Located on a site of approximately 550,000 pyeong (about 1.8 million square meters) in the vicinity of the Daecheong Dam, Cheongnamdae means "Blue House of the South." From the Chun Doo-hwan administration in 1983, it served as a retreat and second office for five presidents.

A Clock Stopped at That Very Moment

While there was much discussion surrounding the opening of Seoul's Blue House, the opening of Cheongnamdae was a long-cherished wish of the residents of North Chungcheong Province. This event, which the entire province had unanimously desired, was realized in 2003. In the year that marked Cheongnamdae's 20th anniversary, the Roh Moo-hyun administration fulfilled its promise to open Cheongnamdae to the public.

Cheongnamdae was opened to the public with a ceremony on April 18, 2003, at 10 AM. The calendar and clock in the main building still show the time when Cheongnamdae was handed over from the Blue House. [Photo=Reporter Lim Yo-hee]

Cheongnamdae Main Building [Photo=Joint Press Corps]

Presidents visited Cheongnamdae at most only three to four times a year, but it was determined that opening it to the public would allow many to enjoy top-tier tourist resources from a prime location.

Cheongnamdae was returned to the embrace of the people with an opening ceremony on April 18, 2003, at 10 AM. The calendar and clock in the main building both show the exact time when Cheongnamdae left the hands of the Blue House.

In addition to the main building, Cheongnamdae boasts various facilities such as the Ogakjeong (five-sided pavilion), a pond (fish farm), the Chogajeong (thatched pavilion), the Presidential History and Culture Center, a swimming pool, and the Presidential Trail. The pond in front of the Presidential Memorial Hall was formerly a fish farm, where President Chun Doo-hwan reportedly released fry from Lake Daecheongho and enjoyed fishing. In winter, it transformed into an ice rink. The Presidential Skate shoes worn by President Chun Doo-hwan are preserved in the annex exhibition hall.

Pleasant Walking Trails and a Monorail

Lake Daecheongho is an artificial lake created by the construction of the Daecheong Dam. Completed in December 1980 after over five years of construction, the Daecheong Dam is the third-largest multipurpose dam in Korea, following the Soyanggang Dam and the Chungju Dam. It serves as a water source for the Chungnam, Chungbuk, and Jeonbuk regions and is so vast that it is called the "Sea within the Inland."

A monorail opened on March 26 along the section to the first observatory, which had been difficult for the elderly and disabled to access due to geographical limitations. [Photo=Joint Press Corps]

Looking down from the forest trails of Cheongnamdae, the mountain peaks rising above the water appear like islands floating on a vast sea. Cheongnamdae features 8 to 9 forest trail courses totaling 14 km, allowing visitors to walk while gazing at Lake Daecheongho.

On March 26, a monorail opened along the section leading to the first observatory, which had been difficult for the elderly and disabled to access due to geographical limitations. The Cheongnamdae monorail operates on a 330-meter section from the old maintenance shed boarding area to the first observatory. Before the monorail's construction, the only way to reach the first observatory was via a wooden staircase with 645 steps called the "Stairs of Happiness."

The monorail journey takes approximately 7 minutes one way. It curves flexibly along the steep slope, slowly ascending towards the summit. The breathtaking scenery of Lake Daecheongho, gradually revealed, is fully displayed from the terminal point, the first observatory, in a 360-degree panorama, eliciting exclamations from visitors. The jagged shoreline of Lake Daecheongho truly resembles the form of a dragon. A photo zone and telescopes are available at the summit, and the boarding fee is 5,000 won for adults.

For those who prefer a walk, consider visiting the Phoenix Forest Observatory (Bonghwang Tower). The Bonghwang Tower is a 22-meter-high spiral wooden observatory built on the site of a former anti-aircraft battery. From the summit, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the magnificent Lake Daecheongho and the entire complex of Cheongnamdae's architecture.

Cheongnamdae Itself is a Botanical Garden

Cheongnamdae is home to over 100 species of landscape trees, and various wildflowers bloom with the changing seasons. However, the most famous tree is likely the 200-year-old quince tree in front of the main building, where the presidential bedroom was located.

This quince tree became a symbol of Cheongnamdae's lavish facilities during a parliamentary audit in 1988, attracting significant public attention and even leading to its "suffering." It was dubbed the "100 million won tree with its own dedicated landscaper."

The magnificent pine trees lining both sides of the main building's entrance are over 80 years old. Originally 62 in number, nearly half were transplanted to the main building of the Blue House during the Sixth Republic. Currently, only 32 of these pine trees remain.

The Metasequoia rest area next to the pond at the Presidential Memorial Hall is very popular for its grandeur and refreshing atmosphere. It is also famously one of the most frequently posted locations on Instagram from Cheongnamdae.

The Metasequoia rest area next to the pond at the Presidential Memorial Hall [Photo=Reporter Lim Yo-hee]

Furthermore, visitors can encounter trees with touching stories, such as the pizza plum tree cherished by Mrs. Son Myung-sook, the lily trees planted as roadside trees along the entrance, and the rowan tree planted by former President Roh Moo-hyun to commemorate its opening to the public.

Cheongnamdae Cafe and President Yoon Suk-yeol

The Cheongnamdae Presidential Memorial Hall features a cafe where visitors can enjoy a cup of tea while admiring the beautiful scenery. Originally, due to numerous regulations surrounding Lake Daecheongho, food and beverage establishments were not permitted.

The Cheongnamdae Presidential Memorial Hall features a cafe where visitors can enjoy a cup of tea while admiring the beautiful scenery. [Photo=Reporter Lim Yo-hee]

Kim Young-hwan, Governor of North Chungcheong Province (second from left in front row), explains the current status of Cheongnamdae to President Yoon Suk-yeol on February 14, 2023. [Photo courtesy of North Chungcheong Province, taken by the Presidential Office]

However, in 2023, when President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Cheongnamdae at the request of Governor Kim Young-hwan of North Chungcheong Province, he immediately instructed the Minister of Environment to discuss water quality management based on science and technology, rather than solely on regulatory environmental policies, with Governor Kim.

Subsequently, the Water Source Management Regulations were amended to allow the installation of restaurants and cafes below a certain size within the water source protection zone. The Cheongnamdae Cafe officially opened its doors in February 2025. Enjoying a cup of tea while gazing at the lush green scenery of June from the cafe is another way to savor the experience of Cheongnamdae.

Reporter Lim Yo-hee