Cheongwadae

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Lonely Planet review

The Blue House is Korea's answer to America's presidential residence the White House. Back in 1968 a squad of 31 North Korean commandos was caught just 500m from the Blue House on a mission to assassinate President Park Chung-hee. The threat from the North has diminished but still remains, so security is tight.

To see Cheongwadae, visitors must join a tour (Korean language only; passports required), which is free and lasts 80 minutes, but does not venture inside any important buildings and only visits the palatial grounds and Chilgung - small locked shrines that contain the spirit tablets of seven royal concubines whose sons became kings during the Joseon dynasty.

Tour times vary and you must pre-book online and pick up your tickets at the ticket booth (; - tour days) in Gyeongbokgung. A tour bus takes you the short distance from the car park to Cheongwadae.