The former presidential villa Cheongnamdae located in Cheongwon-gun, North Chungcheong Province. The main building has a two-story house with a basement, a bedroom, study, salon and common rooms on the second floor for the exclusive use of the president.


By Shim Hyun-chul
Staff Reporter

The neatly cut roads and trees seem to be politely greeting visitors, but the barbed wire and sturdy steel walls hint of a place that needed heavy security.

This place is called Cheongnamdae, located in Cheongwon-gun, North Chungcheong Province, near Daecheong Lake. Meaning the ``Cheong Wa Dae of the south,'' Cheongnamdae is a former presidential retreat. It was built at former President Chun Doo-hwan's request in 1980 at the completion ceremony of Daecheong Dam in 1980. The former president instructed the facility to be built after seeing the beautiful scenery near the dam. Successive presidents have spent their holidays and summer vacations there, four to five times a year for the past 20 years.

Cheongnamdae, 1.8 million square meters, was built and managed so the presidents could be told of state affairs at any time. Whenever the leaders were going through any kind of crisis, they would visit Cheongnamdae, consider their options and make their decision. This is known as ``Thinking at Cheongnamdae.'' A guarded first class security facility surrounded by four iron fences, the venue was finally open to the public on April 18, 2003, by former president Roh Moo-hyun after 20 years of secrecy.

In the Presidential History and Culture Museum, visitors can find an introduction to Cheongnamdae, along with the successive presidents who spent time at the venue and also some utensils they used during their stay. There is also an ``Experience Site'' where visitors can actually experience the life of the presidents themselves.

At the end of a road, where the presidents enjoyed walking, is the Ogakjeong Pavilion. At the pavilion, people can see the breathtaking view of Daecheong Dam. Chogajeong, a traditional house with a thatched roof, displays 70 farming tools brought from Haeui Island, the birthplace of President Kim Dae-jung, and other utensils from nearby neighborhoods. It is known that President Kim enjoyed thinking here at Chogajeong. Visitors can also look around other facilities including a golf course, fish farm, swimming pool and a tennis court.

For more information visit http://chnam.cb21.net or call (043) 220-5683 for group tours.

shim@koreatimes.co.kr