[Digging Travel] Cheongnamdae Opened by the Monorail, Provincial Government Building Unlocked by Picture Books

From the Cheongnamdae Monorail to the Picture Book Garden at the Provincial Government Office
The Transformation of a Presidential Villa and a Century-Old Government Building
Forest Trails and Cultural Spaces for Travelers—Now Tourist Attraction

A good travel destination often begins with the sensation of stepping through a door. In Cheongju, however, the doors are a bit unusual. One is on the forest path leading to the former presidential villa, and the other is in the old corridor of the provincial government’s main building. Spaces that were once off-limits now await the footsteps of travelers. This is what makes the Cheongnamdae area and the vicinity of the Chungbuk Provincial Office so intriguing these days.

The Cheongnamdae monorail is stopped below the observatory. From the observatory, you can see Daecheong Lake and the forest scenery all at once. Chungcheongbuk-do

Cheongnamdae literally means “Blue House in the South.” It served as a presidential retreat from 1993 to 2003 and has been open to the public since then. While the description alone makes it sound like a historical site, its true appeal is somewhat different. This is a place where the space of power gradually dissolves into a space of nature. As you pass the main building and the Presidential Memorial Hall and enter the forest path, the atmosphere changes. The gentle breeze, the old trees, and the color of Daecheong Lake are the first to greet you.

The most noticeable change is the monorail. In the past, climbing to Cheongnamdae’s First Observatory required braving a steep mountain path and 645 stairs. Now, a monorail travels the approximately 330-meter section between the maintenance depot and the First Observatory. Composed of two 20-seat cars, it can accommodate up to 40 people at once. While the distance is short in numbers, the difference is significant in experience. For those who hesitated at the stairs, the observatory has now become accessible.

The monorail is not a fast ride; in fact, its slow ascent is part of its charm. The forest draws near and then recedes, revealing glimpses of Daecheong Lake along the way. When you reach the observatory, Cheongnamdae, Daecheong Lake, and the forest landscape unfold in a single view. This is the moment when “a view you could only see by climbing with effort” becomes “a view you can enjoy together.” In travel, accessibility often becomes a key to deeper impressions. When everyone can see the same scenery from the same height, the place itself takes on a new character.

The 'Picture Book Garden 1937' exhibition room created in the main building of Chungbuk Provincial Office. The old government office building has been transformed into an exhibition space featuring original picture book illustrations. Photo by Heeyoon Kim

In the afternoon, it’s worth turning your attention to the Chungbuk Provincial Office. Government buildings are not usually considered tourist destinations. The space is marked by civil service counters, parking lots, and administrative signs, but the main building in Cheongju defies this expectation. Now home to the “Picture Book Garden 1937,” this building, which has stood for nearly a century, retains its original bricks, corridors, windows, and wooden structures, while picture books and exhibitions now fill the space. It feels more like an old library or a quiet art museum than a government office.

The virtue of this space lies in the fact that it has not been made to look new. The old walls remain just as they are, and the corridors stretch long. In between, bookshelves and chairs have been placed, and rooms have been created for children to linger. Children admire the picture books, while adults take in the passage of time within the building. The same space is experienced in different ways by each generation. The idea that a travel destination must be distant or flashy feels a little less certain here.

The 'Dangsan Thinking Bunker,' repurposed from an old underground Chungmu facility, has transformed a previously closed space into a new tourist route by adding exhibitions and experiential programs. Photo by Heeyoon Kim

If you include the “Dangsan Thinking Bunker” next to the provincial office, your itinerary becomes even more solid. Originally built in 1973 as an underground Civil Defense facility, this space—about 200 meters long, 4 meters wide, and 5.2 meters high—has been transformed into a cultural venue for exhibitions, hands-on programs, and performances. The bunker’s ten rooms now serve as exhibition halls for installations, videos, and participatory programs. What was once the most defensive space has now become one of the city’s most sensory hotspots.

The common thread running through Cheongnamdae and the Chungbuk Provincial Office area is clear: both were once closed off. One was a retreat for the powerful, the other the heart of administration. Add the underground bunker to the mix, and a trip to Cheongju becomes more than just a tour of landmarks—it’s a journey following the transformation of spaces. The presidential villa becomes a walking trail, the government main building a picture book garden, and the bunker an exhibition hall. It’s the city’s way of rewriting its past without erasing it.

Main Building of Chungbuk Provincial Office 'Picture Book Garden 1937' Exhibition Room. Inside the old government building, original picture book illustrations and archives are displayed, transforming the administrative space into a cultural space. Photo by Heeyoon Kim

That’s why this route isn’t flashy but leaves a lasting impression. In the morning, ride the Cheongnamdae monorail and look out over Daecheong Lake. In the afternoon, stroll the corridors of the main government building, enjoying picture books and exhibitions. If your schedule allows, you can extend your visit to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Cheongju, and the Culture Factory. The charm of Cheongju lies not in newly built landmarks but in the way old spaces are reopened. Forests and lakes, government offices and bunkers, picture books and museums—all quietly connected within one city.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.