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| Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon speaks during a press conference at the Government Complex Sejong, Monday. Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
The government will draw up plans to transform the former presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae into a historical and cultural complex accessible to all citizens, Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon said Monday.
Cheong Wa Dae was opened to the public for the first time in 74 years in May as President Yoon Suk-yeol promised to return the compound to the people and move the presidential office to another location.
According to the culture ministry, Cheong Wa Dae is 3.4 times bigger than the White House. Some 600 art pieces and artifacts are stored and displayed inside buildings within the compound and there are around 50,000 trees, alongside a wide variety of wildflowers.
While tourists can now visit the compound and buildings, which have remained empty since Yoon's predecessor Moon Jae-in and his staff left, the Yoon government has yet to come up with measures to preserve the site and develop programs to show Cheong Wa Dae's historical and cultural value.
"Cheong Wa Dae carries a rich history and artistic value. It is awash with stories that will attract tourists. We are working closely with culture experts to make it a place where visitors can meet history, art and nature," Park said during a press conference at the Government Complex Sejong, Monday.
Park was appointed as the new culture minister in May, following a National Assembly confirmation hearing.
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| Visitors wait in line to enter the main office of Cheong Wa Dae in this May 26 photo. Yonhap |
He pledged to help Korea become a "culturally attractive country" by enhancing the overseas promotion of Korean culture.
"The global popularity of Korean music, films and TV dramas has raised worldwide interest in Korea. We aim to expand that interest to K-beauty, K-fashion and K-food," he said.
As for the government's role in promoting and developing "hallyu," or the Korean wave, he said the ministry will help content creators go digital and expand Korean language and culture education through Korean Cultural Centers abroad.
"We will continue to uphold a 'support, but not intervene' policy as the 'value of freedom' is the catchphrase that represents the Yoon Seok-yeol administration," he said.
The minister declined to express his views on whether members of K-pop sensation BTS should be exempt from mandatory military service, saying he is not in a position to state an opinion on that matter.
"We will measure public opinion on BTS' exemption from active military service. We will discuss the matter with the Military Manpower Administration and the National Assembly," he said.
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