The view of the Blue House from Jongno-gu, Seoul, on June 4, 2025, the inauguration day of President Lee Jae Myung. Photo by Jo Yongjun
The operation of Blue House tours will be adjusted starting from the middle of next month. Until the completion of the Blue House return process in August, tours will be restricted.
On June 10, Kang Yoojung, spokesperson for the presidential office, stated in a briefing, "In order to ensure a smooth return to the Blue House and to create a better environment for visitors, we plan to adjust and operate Blue House tours accordingly."
Currently, only some trails are closed due to maintenance and repair work, while Blue House tours are otherwise ongoing. According to the Blue House Foundation website, the current tour system will be maintained until July 14. However, from July 16 to the end of that month, there will be restrictions on the number of reservations and the tour routes. Starting August 1, all tours will be temporarily suspended until the return to the Blue House is complete. This measure is being taken to conduct comprehensive security and safety inspections. Tours will resume as soon as the return to the Blue House is finished.
Meanwhile, spokesperson Kang explained, "In order to normalize the national system, the Cabinet meeting held today approved an agenda item regarding the reserve fund for the return to the Blue House," and added, "The reserve fund related to the Blue House return totals 25.9 billion won, which is 69% or 11.9 billion won less than the 37.8 billion won reserve fund for the relocation to Yongsan."
She also emphasized, "We will select companies in a fair and transparent manner, and office arrangements will be made to enhance communication."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
