Former presidential retreat to become outdoor wedding facility

CHEONGJU, South Korea, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- A former South Korean presidential retreat located south of Seoul will be remodeled into an outdoor wedding facility this spring under a provincial government bid to attract more tourists to the state-owned compound, officials of North Chungcheong Province said Monday.

Cheong Nam Dae, which was built by former President Chun Doo-hwan in 1983 and had
been used for presidential summer vacation mansion until 2003, will be reopened
to the public as an outdoor wedding venue, starting in April, said the officials.
The management of Cheong Nam Dae, the name of which alludes to Cheong Wa Dae (the
presidential office), was turned over to the provincial government shortly after
the inauguration of former President Roh Moo-hyun in 2003 and has since attracted
over 3.5 million visitors. The scenic compound overlooking Lake Daecheong is
located about 150 kilometers south of Seoul.
According to the officials, the provincial government recently concluded a
contract with a wedding consulting company on the use of the compound for public
wedding events.
brk@yna.co.kr
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