Visitor numbers to Cheong Wa Dae, the former office and residence of South Korea’s presidents located in Jongno District, Seoul, increased by more than 50% over three weeks following President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, according to data released on Jan. 6. Statistics from the Cheong Wa Dae Foundation show that 18,912 people visited the historic site during the first week of December (Dec. 2–8), coinciding with the martial law crisis. Visitor numbers rose slightly to 19,543 the following week (Dec. 9–15), which included the National Assembly’s impeachment of President Yoon on Dec. 14. Attendance surged in the third week (Dec. 16–22) to 20,364 and then to 29,213 in the fourth week (Dec. 23–29), representing a 54.4% increase over three weeks.
Cheong Wa Dae has long been a symbol of South Korean governance. Originally named Gyeongmudae during its designation as the office and residence of President Rhee Syng-man in 1948, it was renamed Cheong Wa Dae during President Yun Po-sun’s administration in 1961. The site underwent significant renovations under President Roh Tae-woo in the early 1990s. Successive leaders, from Kim Young-sam to Moon Jae-in, used Cheong Wa Dae as their official residence and office. However, President Yoon relocated the presidential office and residence to Yongsan District and Hannam-dong, respectively, after taking office in 2022. This move marked the first time in over 70 years that Cheong Wa Dae was opened to the public. By the end of December 2024, it had attracted a total of 6.75 million visitors, including foreign tourists.
On Jan. 6, visitors flocked to the venue, enjoying the picturesque snow-covered backdrop of Bukaksan Mountain. Crowds admired the iconic blue-tiled roof of the main building and explored other attractions, such as Sangchunjae, a traditional Korean-style structure, and the nearby Nokjiwon garden. Yang Jeong-min, a 42-year-old office worker from Buk District in Ulsan, toured Cheong Wa Dae with his family. “We wanted our kids to see Cheong Wa Dae, which was opened to the public after 70 years. Experiencing it now, during the martial law crisis and impeachment proceedings, felt like the right time,” Yang said. Another visitor, identified only as Yoon, traveled from Jecheon in North Chungcheong Province with his wife. “The political upheaval, including the impeachment and the anticipated early presidential election, prompted us to move up our plans to visit Cheong Wa Dae,” he explained.
Visitors can reserve free tickets online for same-day entry or up to four weeks in advance, though walk-ins are also permitted. As of Jan. 6, more than 10,000 reservations had already been made for January. Kim Nam-jo, a professor of tourism at Hanyang University, noted, “With the current political instability, many people who had long intended to visit Cheong Wa Dae are taking this opportunity.” Experts suggest the site’s recent popularity reflects growing public interest in the history of South Korea’s presidents. Many former leaders left office under tumultuous circumstances, including resignation, assassination, imprisonment, or impeachment. “Cheong Wa Dae has become a poignant symbol for reflecting on the often-tragic endings of South Korean presidents,” a political analyst said. “With President Yoon being the third leader to face impeachment and his duties currently suspended, the site’s significance has deepened.”
Cheong Wa Dae is now managed by the Cheong Wa Dae Foundation under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. A foundation official confirmed that operations would continue as planned, with the National Assembly having approved its 2024 budget through bipartisan agreement. Although the specific budget details for this year were not disclosed, last year’s allocations included 17.2 billion won ($11.75 million) for operations, 7.5 billion won ($5.12 million) for remodeling the administrative building, 6.3 billion won ($4.30 million) for landscaping and facility maintenance, and 1.7 billion won ($1.17 million) for visitor experience improvements.
