Blue House, Presidential office and residence in Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea

The Blue House is a former presidential office and residence in Jongno District, Seoul, behind Gyeongbokgung Palace. Its main building, Bon-gwan, completed in 1991, is a two-story structure with a hipped roof covered in blue-green tiles, a white facade divided by vertical piers, and a narrow white balustrade along the upper level. The complex covers about 250,000 square metres and includes the Yeongbin-gwan reception house and the Chunchu-gwan press hall.

The compound was established in 1948 as the presidential office and residence after Korea regained independence. It stood on grounds that had served as a royal garden during the Joseon Dynasty.

The name Cheong Wa Dae means "blue tiled pavilion," taken from the blue-green tiles on the roofs. The site was called Gyeongmudae until President Yun Po-sun renamed it in December 1960, because the old name had become tied to authoritarian rule. The seven palaces of Chilgung, shrines for royal consorts' families, stand within the grounds.

You can explore most of the grounds on foot during opening hours, but some interior spaces require advance registration through the official website. The entrance is near Gyeongbokgung subway station, and a walk around the site takes roughly one to two hours depending on your route.

In 2022 the grounds opened to the general public as a park for the first time in 74 years. Visitors can now walk paths that were previously accessible only to a few government staff and invited guests.