South Korea Blue House opened to the public

SEOUL: Thousands of South Koreans poured into the presidential Blue House in leafy northern Seoul on Wednesday, after President Yoon Suk-yeol made good on a campaign promise to return the oncefortified compound to the people.

The building, named for the approximately 150,000 handpainted blue tiles that adorn its roof, has been home to South Korea’s leaders since 1948, and was largely restricted to the public.

That has changed since Yoon, a former top prosecutor who was sworn in on Tuesday, refused to move in, saying the hilltop headquarters – on a site once used by former colonial power Japan – fostered an “imperial” presidency and undermine communication with the public.

Instead, Yoon is working from the 10-storey defence ministry building – an undistinguished office block in downtown Seoul, hastily adorned with the presidential seal.

Critics have slammed the move as a costly waste of time and money, which could also put the country’s security in jeopardy at a time of high tensions with the nuclear-armed North.

But on opening day, South Koreans flocked to the 250,000square-metre complex, which is flanked by mountains and nestled behind the royal Gyeongbokgung Palace.

“It is an honour of my life to come here and actually see the presidential office,” Choi Jungbun, 70, told AFP as she ate a packed lunch by a stream in its garden.

“This is a deeply storied site that conjures up old Korean kings and modern-day presidents. I am sure it will become one of the major tourist attractions.”

According to officials, more than 25,000 people toured the complex on the first day of full opening, having signed up in advance. Visitors seemed thrilled to finally be allowed inside, with huge queues in front of the main building as people waited patiently to take photographs.