Feel summer night at Cheong Wa Dae

연합뉴스 / 2022-07-20 10:21:34

▲ This photo, shows participants going to and from the official residence at the press release event of "Cheong Wa Dae, Midsummer Night's Walk" held at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Tuesday afternoon. The Blue House Public Relations Promotion Team and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, under the Cultural Heritage Administration, is running the Cheong Wa Dae nighttime open program, "Cheong Wa Dae, Midsummer Night's Walk" from July 20 till August 1. (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, shows participants who are reporters viewing the reception room of the main building at the press release event of "Cheong Wa Dae, A Midsummer Night's Walk' held on Tuesday afternoon. The Blue House Public Relations Promotion Team and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, under the Cultural Heritage Administration, is running the Cheong Wa Dae nighttime open program, "Cheong Wa Dae, Midsummer Night's Walk" from July 20 till August 1. (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, shows participants watching a fusion traditional music performance at the official residence on Tuesday afternoon. The Blue House Public Relations Promotion Team and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, under the Cultural Heritage Administration, is running the Cheong Wa Dae nighttime open program, "Cheong Wa Dae, Midsummer Night's Walk" from July 20 till August 1. (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, shows officials examining Nokjiwon equipped with laser firefly lights. The Blue House Public Relations Promotion Team and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, under the Cultural Heritage Administration, is running the Cheong Wa Dae nighttime open program, "Cheong Wa Dae, Midsummer Night's Walk" from July 20 till August 1. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, July 19 (Yonhap) -- "Now, let's open the door!"

As the sun went down and the heat of noon faded, the closed door slowly began to open. It took only 1 to 2 minutes for the door to open wide, and the voices of the people who were waiting gasped "Wow."

Cheong Wa Dae, the center of Korean politics and a symbol of power, is open at night for the first time since the opening of Cheong Wa Dae. It is through "Cheong Wa Dae, Midsummer Night's Walk" event, where one can feel the atmosphere of a summer night while looking around the place.

Cheong Wa Dae, which was unveiled to the reporters on Tuesday evening, had a different feeling from the daytime. The lighting for the building made the "blue tiles" stand out even more.

The tour started at 7:30 p.m. at the main gate of Cheong Wa Dae.

After checking whether the application was made, the information desk handed out bugbands to help prevent insects, along with taegeuk (Korean term cognate with the Chinese term Taiji meaning "supreme ultimate") shaped fans.

Shim Yong-hwan, director of the History N Education Research Institute, who gave the commentary on the day, led the visitors through Daejeongwon to the main building and said, "Cheong Wa Dae was the most important cultural heritage to inform about Korea, when showing the top leaders of other nations."

"This is the best part of Cheong Wa Dae. Imagine that you're the president and come up one step at a time," director Shim said, as he pointed out the stairs to the second floor. The visitors began to do as he say while taking pictures.

At around 8 p.m., when visitors passed Sugungteo and arrived at the residence where the presidents used to live, a small concert was held.

"Cello Gayageum," by Cellist Sol Daniel Kim, and Gayageum played by Yoon Da-young, was held, allowing the audience to enjoy the summer night with the music.

In this nighttime viewing, a specially opened space stood out.

Sangchunjae, where Korean traditional house styles was introduced to domestic and foreign distinguished guests, and was where ceremonial events, and informal meetings were held, opened its windows wide on this day. Although it was not possible to go inside, 96 pieces of traditional crafts including white porcelains and the furniture added to the traditional beauty.

The night walk reached its climax when one reached Nokjiwon (presidential garden), which is said to be the most beautiful place on the grounds of Cheong Wa Dae.

As darkness fell, the area around Nokjiwon Bansong (most impressive and beautiful tree located in the middle of Nokjiwon) shimmered in various colors like fireflies emitting light. Along with the laser lighting, the spectators created memories with the light event.

After looking around the Daejeongwon, the main building, Sugungteo, the official residence, Sangchunjae, and Nokjiwon, the audience returned to the main gate at 9:00 p.m, about 1 hour and 30 minutes after the tour started.

"If we were able to tour the place brightly during the day, at night, with all the different lighting, it gives off a different feeling. Touring on daytime has its own charm, but touring on nighttime has its own charm too," said Park Jun-hong, who attended the tour with his wife.

The satisfaction of foreign visitors who had a glimpse of Korea's symbolic space was also high.

"It's the first time for me to be in a place that I've only seen in dramas or the news," Diana, who participated in the pre-opening event as part of the "Cultural Heritage Global Promotion Group of the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, said. "Although I've lived in Korea for more than four years, this is a really special night."

"Because Cheong Wa Dae has so many stories to offer, it is a pity that we cannot tell them all," Shim Yong-hwan, head of the History N Education Research Center, said. "The series of processes in which Cheong Wa Dae opened is the achievement of all, not just one, and the development of democracy."

The night viewing of Cheong Wa Dae will be held for a total of 12 days (closed on Tuesdays) until August 1, and 1,200 visitors will be selected through pre-application and lottery.

"After the opening of Cheong Wa Dae, the public interest was so great that 1.31 million people have visited," Kim Soon-ho, head of the Cheong Wa Dae Cultural Project Team at the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation said. "Although this was a trial run, we will consider how we'll operate in the future."