Cheongnamdae Presidential Villa

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Basic info

  • AssortmentHistory and Culture
  • Address646, Cheongnamdae-gil, Muneui-myeon, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do (Cheongnamdae Management Office)
  • Contact for inquire82-43-220-6412~4
  • SummaryLocated in Daecheonghoban, Cheongnamdae has been a popular tourist attraction covered with the traces of modern history since 2003, when it was opened to the general public. For the past 20 years, it served as a place where five successive Presidents could rest or make political plans in a natural environment. History still breathes here in Korea’s only presidential villa.
  • Homepagehttp://chnam.cb21.net/

Detailed Information

Tourist Attraction Information

Located in Daecheonghoban, Cheongnamdae has been a popular tourist attraction covered with the traces of modern history since 2003, when it was opened to the general public. For the past 20 years, it served as a place where five successive Presidents could rest or make political plans in a natural environment. History still breathes here in Korea’s only presidential villa.
Since it was returned to the people, more than 4.6 million Koreans have paid a visit to Cheongnamdae, Presidential Villa which is now being established as the most famous tourist attraction. The Cheongwadae Presidential Villa of the south! For the past 20 years, it served as a place where five successive presidents could rest or make political plans in a natural environment. Now, it Cheongnamdae also possesses an unsurpassed natural scene that cannot be found anywhere else due to its designation as a water resource protection area. At Cheongnamdae, visitors can see the main building, which is imbued with the breath of successive presidents, the President Square, Ogakjeong Pavilion, a golf course, fish farm, and Chogajung. Also available is the Presidential History and Culture Hall, where visitors can experience the lives of presidents, the Sky Garden, and the Hoban Walkway where people can walk with their loved ones along the Daecheong lakeshore. Come to visit Cheongnamdae, and enjoy the Cheongnamdae Festival that is held every year.
During April and October, when the Cheongnamdae Festival is held, visitors can participate in unique events such as the Drawing Contest and Presidential Selection Contest or appreciate a chrysanthemum exhibition where 10 million chrysanthemum flowers sewn into waves and hills are on display. Cheongnamdae is open to the public in a superb natural beauty, so visitors are encouraged to come and experience a presidential day of their very own and make a romantic memory by receiving presidential spirit. We promise all visitors will be treated with utmost care for their convenience.

Introduction

Cheongnamdae is home to several buildings used by presidents, a well-trimmed garden, and several trails. Visitors will be greeted by scores of 50-year old pine trees in front of the two-story main building with blue roof-tiles just like those of the Cheongwadae.
Right next to the main building is a playground where grandchildren of a President might have played, an airplane model, a swimming pool, a tennis court, and more sports facilities. On a hill in the back is a heliport covered by Korean grass. In the garden of the main building, yew trees, nut pines, plum trees, cedar trees, and lacebark pines stand tall while radiating elegance. The scene of Daecheongho Lake as seen from here is an unsurpassed natural beauty.
The pine path from the garden to a pavilion in front of the lake, the pear grove path in-between pear orchards, and the 1 km-long trail along the lakeshore will lend peace of mind to anyone walking along them, as if they were in meditation. To see the once hidden Cheongnamdae, a reservation is required. Reservations may be made through the Cheongnamdae homepage (http://chnam.cb21.net).
The number of tourists allowed to enter Cheongnamdae each day is 1,000. Cheongnamdae is open from 10:00 to 18:00, but is closed on Mondays. Visitors are not allowed to walk around freely. Instead, tourists will be escorted by a guide in a shuttle bus and visit such facilities as the fish farm, the main building, garden, swimming pool, 6-hole mini golf course, the pavilion in front of the lake, etc. in that order. The tour will take about 2 hours, and the main building will only be opened on a limited basis. Visitors may not cook or bring their own food in Cheongnamdae.

History of Cheongnamdae

In 1980, when President Chun Doo-hwan participated in the completion ceremony of Daecheong Dam, he made the decision to establish a presidential villa on the recommendation of those who believed the surrounding environment was excellent. The construction, which began in June 1983, took six months and was completed in December of the same year. ‘Cheongnamdae’, located on 1,844,843㎡ of land near Daecheong Dam, Chungcheongbuk-do means ‘the warm Cheongnamdae in the south.’


Successive presidents often spent their summer vacations and holidays here. Some presidents visited Cheongnamdae 4 or 5 times a year, while others came 7 or 8 times a year. In the past 20 years, the presidents visited this place 88 times and stayed for a total of 471 days altogether. There were four presidential villas from the time of President Rhee Syng-man including one at Gimhae, but President Kim Young-sam closed all others except the Cheongnamdae.


Cheongnamdae was equipped with complete facilities so presidents could carry out presidential duties even during vacation or holidays. It also constructed and operated a top-quality water purification system for the protection of Daecheongho water resources. Furthermore, Cheongnamdae was managed directly by the Cheongwadae as a Classification A Security Facility, complete with 4-fold security wires and 338 Security Garrison Force. On April 18, 2003, management of Cheongnamdae was transferred to Chungcheongbuk-do by President Roh Moo-hyun, and since then Cheongnamdae has been open to the general public.
In rapidly changing domestic and foreign situations, presidents were often required to make important decisions. At such times, the presidents stayed in Cheongnamdae to design future political plans, and these decisions often changed history. This is the so-called 『Cheongnamedae Design』. On other occasions, Cheongnamdae was also used to invite foreign dignitaries.

Opening Hours

  • Admission: 9:00 to 16:30 (winter: until 15:30)
  • Exit: 17:50 (winter: until 16:50)

Admission Fee

  • Tickets: Adults KRW 5,000 / middle and high school students KRW 4,000 / elementary school students, seniors KRW 3000
  • Bus Fare (round trip): General (middle and high school students, adults) KRW 2,400 / elementary school children, seniors KRW 2000

Cheongnamdae Hanu (Beef) Street

  • Munui Post Office
  • Dwaejine Livestock Korean Beef
  • Hanaro Mart
  • Korean Beef of Taehwa Butcher’s Shop
  • Cheongnamgol Korean Beef
  • Arirang Korean Beef
  • Cheongmaek Korean Beef
  • Sigoljangteo Korean Beef
  • Dodangsan Korean Beef
  • Cheongnamdae Paradise Korean Beef
  • Cheongnamdae Ticket Booth

How to come

  • Cheongju IC (Seocheongju IC) ⇒ Cheongwon-Sangju Expressway - Munui IC ⇒ Turn left at Samgeori ⇒ Drive 1.3㎞ straight (Cheongnamdae Box Office), then immediately turn left and go 12㎞ straight (Cheongnamdae)
  • Cheongwon Junction after Namcheongju IC ⇒ Cheongwon-Sangju Expressway - Munui IC ⇒ Turn left at Samgeori ⇒ Drive 1.3㎞ straight (Cheongnamdae Box Office), then immediately turn left and go 12㎞ straight (Cheongnamdae)

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