Visitors admire the view of Daecheong Lake from the 1st Observatory, the final stop of the monorail. [Photo = Joint Press Corps]

Cheongju is blessed with excellent water—both for drinking and for viewing. It was this quality that charmed King Sejong the Great, leading him to build the Chojeong Haenggung (royal villa), and later drew President Chun Doo-hwan to construct the presidential villa, Cheongnamdae, along the lakeshore.

Located on a 550,000-pyeong site near Daecheong Dam, Cheongnamdae means "The Blue House of the South." Starting in 1983 during the Chun Doo-hwan administration, it served as a vacation villa and a secondary office for five successive presidents.

A Clock Stopped at That Very Moment

While the opening of the Blue House in Seoul stirred much debate, the opening of Cheongnamdae was a long-cherished desire of the residents of North Chungcheong Province. This wish finally came to fruition in 2003. Twenty years after its construction, the Roh Moo-hyun administration fulfilled its campaign promise to open Cheongnamdae to the public. 

Cheongnamdae was returned to the public during an opening ceremony held at 10:00 AM on April 18, 2003. Both the calendar and the clock in the main building are set to the exact time on that day when Cheongnamdae left the hands of the Blue House. [Photo = Reporter Im Yo-hee]

Cheongnamdae Main Building [Photo = Joint Press Corps]

The decision was based on the realization that although the president visited only three or four times a year, opening it to the public would allow a greater number of people to enjoy this prime tourist asset in its exceptional location. 

Cheongnamdae was returned to the public during an opening ceremony held at 10:00 AM on April 18, 2003. Both the calendar and the clock in the main building are set to the exact time on that day when Cheongnamdae left the hands of the Blue House. 

In addition to the main building, Cheongnamdae features various facilities such as the Ogakjeong Pavilion, a pond (formerly a fish farm), Chogajeong Pavilion, the Presidential History and Culture Center, a swimming pool, and Presidential Trails. The pond in front of the Presidential Memorial Hall was once a fish farm where President Chun Doo-hwan reportedly released fish fry from Daecheong Lake and enjoyed fishing. In winter, it would transform into a skating rink, and the skates worn by President Chun are still preserved in the annex exhibition hall. 

Pleasant Walking Trails and the Monorail 

Daecheong Lake is an artificial reservoir created by the construction of the Daecheong Dam. Completed in December 1980 after five years of construction, it is the third-largest multi-purpose dam in South Korea, following the Soyang and Chungju dams. Serving as a vital water supply for the Chungnam, Chungbuk, and Jeonbuk regions, it is so expansive that it is often called an "inland sea."

On March 26, a monorail opened along the route to the 1st Observatory, an area that had been difficult for the elderly and disabled to access due to topographical limitations. [Photo = Joint Press Corps]

Looking down from the forests of Cheongnamdae, the mountain peaks rising above the water appear like islands floating in a vast ocean. Cheongnamdae boasts 8 to 9 forest trails with a total length of 14 km, allowing visitors to walk while overlooking Daecheong Lake.

On March 26, a monorail was opened along the route to the 1st Observatory, an area previously inaccessible to the elderly or disabled due to steep terrain. The Cheongnamdae monorail runs a 330-meter stretch from the old maintenance depot to the 1st Observatory. Before its construction, the only way to reach the 1st Observatory was via the "Stairs of Happiness," a set of 645 wooden steps. 

The monorail ride takes about seven minutes one way. It travels slowly toward the summit, winding smoothly along the steep incline. Once you reach the final stop at the 1st Observatory, the hidden, breathtaking scenery of Daecheong Lake fully reveals itself in a 360-degree panorama, drawing gasps of admiration from visitors. The jagged shoreline of the lake truly resembles the body of a dragon. The summit is equipped with a photo zone and telescopes, and the fare is 5,000 won for adults.

If you prefer to walk, try the Phoenix Forest Observatory (Bonghwangtap). Built on the former site of an anti-aircraft artillery base, this 22-meter-tall spiral wooden tower offers a panoramic view of the lake's magnificent scenery and the entire complex of Cheongnamdae buildings.

Cheongnamdae: An Arboretum in Itself

Cheongnamdae is home to over 100 species of ornamental trees and a variety of seasonal wildflowers, but the most famous is likely the 200-year-old crape myrtle tree in front of the main building, near the former presidential bedroom. 

During the 1988 National Assembly hearings, this tree became a symbol of the villa's extravagant facilities and faced public scrutiny. Dubbed the "100-million-won tree with its own dedicated arborist," it drew significant public attention.

The Korean red pines (bansong) that line the entrance to the main building are over 80 years old. There were originally 62 of them, but nearly half were relocated to the Blue House during the construction of its main building in the Sixth Republic. Today, only 32 remain at Cheongnamdae.

The Metasequoia grove next to the pond at the Presidential Memorial Hall is highly popular for its grandeur and refreshing atmosphere, and it is famously the most photographed spot at Cheongnamdae on Instagram. 

Metasequoia grove next to the pond at the Presidential Memorial Hall [Photo = Reporter Im Yo-hee]

Visitors can also discover trees with poignant stories, such as the Japanese plum tree loved by First Lady Son Myung-soon, the tulip trees planted as street trees along the entrance, and the mountain ash planted by former President Roh Moo-hyun to commemorate the site's opening to the public.

Cheongnamdae Cafe and President Yoon Suk Yeol 

The Presidential Memorial Hall at Cheongnamdae houses a cafe where you can enjoy a cup of tea while taking in the beautiful scenery. Previously, due to various regulations surrounding the Daecheong Lake watershed, food and beverage outlets were not allowed on the premises. 

The Presidential Memorial Hall at Cheongnamdae features a cafe where you can enjoy a cup of tea while taking in the beautiful scenery. [Photo = Reporter Im Yo-hee]

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

However, during President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to Cheongnamdae in 2023 at the invitation of Governor Kim Young-hwan, the president immediately directed the Minister of Environment to discuss water quality management based on science and technology rather than relying solely on regulation-heavy environmental policies.

Following this, the regulations on water source management were amended to allow restaurants and cafes of a certain size within the water source protection area, leading to the grand opening of the Cheongnamdae Cafe in February 2025. Sitting in the cafe and enjoying a cup of tea while looking out at the greenery of June is just one of the many ways to experience Cheongnamdae.

Cheongju = Reporter Im Yo-hee