Cheongnam University bedroom where former president stayed open to public

연합뉴스 / 2023-03-27 13:53:51

▲ This photo shows the main building of Cheongnam University. (Yonhap)

▲ This photo shows Cheongnam University Presidential Memorial Hall. (Yonhap)

▲ This photo shows Cheongnam University with spring flowers

SEOUL, Mar. 27 (Yonhap) -- The bedroom in the building of Cheongnam University where the president stayed in Munui-myeon, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, the former presidential villa, will be opened for public accommodation.

It is the first time in 20 years since the opening of Cheongnam University under former President Roh Moo Hyun on April 18, 2003.

According to North Chungcheong Province on Monday, the main building of Cheongnam University has 10 bedrooms in addition to the president’s bedroom for exhibition. There are five each on the first and second floors.

Among them, the province will provide five bedrooms on the first floor to 10 ordinary citizens for two days and on night from the 17th to the 18th of next month. For the second time, 10 people will stay from the 20th to the 21st.

For this, North Chungcheong Province has requested 11 cities and counties to recommend two people each.

The targets include people of national merit, those who have contributed to the development of cities and counties, and athletes and celebrities who have raised the country’s external dignity.

It also includes residents of the submerged area of Munui-myeon, Daecheongho Lake, and residents of Siru Island, Danyang, who overcame the crisis of death during the Great Flood in 1972.

However, it is difficult for residents with addresses in North Chungcheong Province to stay at this time. All recommended subjects were limited to residents outside the jurisdiction.

A provincial official said, "In the absence of legal grounds such as ordinances, it is impossible to provide benefits to residents with addresses in the province under the Public Official Election Act."

The Cheongnam University Management Office is in full swing by installing beds and dressing tables ahead of the opening of the main bedroom.

Programs are also in full swing for guests who will stay at Cheongnam University for one night and two days at the recommendation of the city and county.

After entering Cheongnam University around 5 p.m., they will eat dinner with a lunch box, and then look around the promenade along Daecheong Lake under the pouring starlight and watch the performance.

North Chungcheong Province is also preparing to revise the "Cheongnam University Operation Ordinance."

The province completed registration for the education service industry earlier this month, and plans to include the operation of educational programs in Cheongnam University in the revision of the ordinance.

Residents participating in this education program will be able to stay in the bedroom of the main building of Cheongnam University for a fee.

A provincial official said, "If the ordinance is proposed to the provincial council's extraordinary meeting in April, it can be implemented in May," adding, "It will be possible to receive paid guests from outside the province regardless of the election law."

The province also plans to open five bedrooms on the second floor of the main building in August when repairs and maintenance are completed.

In an earlier post on his Facebook page on the 17th of last month, North Chungcheong Province Governor Kim Young-hwan indicated that he was considering using the bedroom of the main building and annex of Cheongnam University.

Governor Kim said, "Not a single person has been able to sleep in the president's bedroom for the past 20 years after the opening of Cheongnam University," adding, "We will fully open all the facilities used by former presidents to the people."

All former presidents stayed at Cheongnam University for 88 times, 366 nights and 471 days, and up to 1,000 people, including secretarial staff, security personnel, and soldiers, ate and slept.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Yunhee Cho.)

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