Cheongwadae, There Are People Who Have Been There Once but None Who Have Been Multiple Times...

Surrounding Businesses Miss Out on Benefits
"Expansion of Content and Convenience Facilities Needed"

The Blue House was quiet when visited on the morning of the 24th. Small groups of Chinese and Japanese tourists were wandering around with guides, and domestic visitors were hard to find. Kim Sewon (32), a freelancer, said, "It seems that most of the visitors are foreigners," adding, "It's a place worth visiting once, but the transportation is inconvenient, so there's no need to come twice."

The number of visitors to the Blue House, opened by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, has been decreasing every year.

According to the Blue House Foundation on the 27th, the number of visitors peaked at about 2.776 million in 2022, the first year of opening, and has steadily declined since. Last year, about 1.91 million people visited the Blue House, dropping below 2 million for the first time since its opening.

A Blue House Foundation official said, "It is necessary to consider the initial convention effect and the extended operating hours during the early opening period."

The budget for creating cultural spaces at the Blue House is increasing. This year's Blue House budget is about 37 billion KRW, up from 29.5 billion KRW in 2024. According to the National Assembly Budget Office's '2023 Fiscal Year Settlement Committee Analysis' report, the budget was 9.6 billion KRW in 2022, the first year of opening, and 23.5 billion KRW in 2023. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated that the budget reflects remodeling of aging buildings and installation of visitor convenience facilities.

With the full opening of the Blue House, there were expectations that the surrounding commercial district would revive. However, many say it is difficult to feel that effect so far. Jo Seokwon (82), who runs a Korean restaurant near the Blue House, said, "Blue House employees have left, three bank branches have closed, and the employees who rented space have disappeared," adding, "In the early days of opening, there were many people even on weekdays, but now there are only some customers on weekends."

There are calls for content development and expansion of convenience facilities to increase demand for Blue House visits.

Jeong Ransu, an adjunct professor in the Department of Tourism at Hanyang University, said, "Most of the Blue House is used as landscaping or exhibition space, so the biggest problem is that there is no reason to visit again once you go," adding, "Not only exhibitions but also places to spend time like restaurants or cafes should be available, but there are limitations due to the Blue House's purpose."

Professor Jeong also said, "If local youth or general merchants create convenience facilities inside the Blue House in the form of flea markets or pop-up stores, it can simultaneously promote regional coexistence and increase visitors," adding, "It is necessary to attempt collaboration with the private sector so that content that allows visitors to enjoy the Blue House can be activated."