Latest news with #BlueHouse
CNA
2 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Visitors throng South Korea's iconic Blue House before it closes to public
South Korea's presidential Blue House has seen a surge in the number of visitors since June, with public tours ending from Aug 1. This, as President Lee Jae Myung announced plans to move back into the iconic building left vacant by his predecessor. In May 2022, then-President Yoon Suk Yeol decided to move the presidential office elsewhere and open the historic building to the public. Since then, about 8.5 million people have toured the place. CNA's Lim Yun Suk has more.
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Parkwood exhibition breathes new life into a classic genre
A fresh new art exhibition: Still Life: A Contemporary Arrangement, was unveiled today at the Blue House in Parkwood. Presented by David Krut Projects, the show features 14 South African artists who give a modern twist to the traditional still life. Read more: Strauss & Co invites residents to their latest exhibition Open for the next four weeks until early August, the exhibition invites viewers to see everyday objects differently. Through paint, print, and mixed media, artists share personal stories and explore memory, identity, and reflection. Well-known names like William Kentridge and Deborah Bell are featured, alongside emerging artists such as Boemo Diale and Stephen Langa, offering a mix of styles and voices. Curator Amé Bell says: 'Still life is more than just a quiet moment; it's a space for reflection and creativity. This show shows how objects can speak… If we're willing to listen.' Artist Maja Maljević adds: 'Sometimes a flower is just a flower, but in art it can mean so much more.' One standout piece comes from Adele van Heerden, who painted her friend's bathtub as a place of calm and stillness. 'At home, we look for quiet moments. The bath becomes a space to pause and breathe.' Her work gently shows this space, complete with soft light, plants, and even a curious dog. Other artists include Peter Cohan, Bronwyn Findlay, Heidi Fourie, Heike Jeske, Roxy Kaczmarek, Phumulani Ntuli, Nina Torr, and Anna van der Ploeg. Each bringing their own view to what still life can be today. Visitors are encouraged to take their time and look closely. There's something quiet and thoughtful waiting to be found in every corner. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Relaxed style and no mention of Yoon: key takeaways from two hours with South Korea's new president
South Korea's president, Lee Jae-myung, has given his first big press conference, a month after winning an election in a country shaken by a brief declaration of martial law imposed by his now-impeached predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol. Everything about the event seemed designed to signal a break from the defensive, isolated style of previous Yoon administration. Here are five takeaways from the president's two-hour appearance: Where his predecessor had shunned the media from a heavily fortified defence ministry compound, Lee chose the Blue House – the traditional presidential seat he plans to return to after renovations. South Korea's new president sat just one and a half metres from journalists, doing away with the raised podium and imperial trappings that had defined his predecessor's rare public appearances. During question time, reporters' names were drawn from lottery boxes, giving tiny regional outlets the same chance as big networks to question the leader. His answers meandered for minutes, peppered with personal anecdotes and laughs. Journalists were told in advance that the format was deliberately chosen to remove any sense of grandeur or power hierarchy. Lee was swept into the presidency after Yoon's ill-fated martial law attempt, which triggered what Lee called a 'national crisis' and badly shook public faith in government. Lee did not mention Yoon's name once throughout the two-hour session. Lee repeatedly emphasised cooperation across party lines to restore economic stability rather than continuing the polarisation so characteristic of Korean politics. He mentioned fears of secret recordings during unofficial meetings with the opposition, so deep was the distrust between sides. When asked about concerns over weak oversight given that his party controls both the presidency and the National Assembly with a supermajority, Lee acknowledged the political reality. 'This is precisely the people's choice,' he said, noting many voters elevated his party from the opposition because they had 'disliked the other side less'. With the US tariff suspension to expire on 9 July, Lee was candid about the challenges ahead. 'The tariff negotiations are very difficult, that's certain,' he said. 'We need to create mutually beneficial, truly reciprocal results, but so far both sides haven't clearly sorted out exactly what they want.' He admitted: 'I cannot guarantee we can finish by the 8th.' South Korea's automotive sector, which exported $34.7bn (£25.4bn) worth of vehicles to the US last year, faces one of the biggest threats from potential 25% tariffs, while steel already faces 50%. The country's lucrative semiconductor industry is also vulnerable. Drawing on his experience as a lawyer who handled marital conflicts, he compared inter-Korean relations to feuding couples whose problems had spiralled out of control. His solution? 'I used to tell them to try switching roles. Usually people who did this came to understand each other. 'Misunderstanding breeds misunderstanding, conflict breeds conflict, distrust breeds distrust, hatred breeds hatred, so what was originally a small difference becomes unmanageable. 'Even during war, diplomacy continues,' Lee said. 'Completely cutting off dialogue is really foolish.' But Lee also emphasised maintaining strong defence, promising continued military modernisation within the South Korea-US alliance framework. He spoke of creating a 'virtuous cycle of peace', citing how North Korea quickly responded when Seoul halted cross-border loudspeaker broadcasts, but offered few specifics about how to achieve this when pressed. When discussing plans to reduce South Korea's working week to 4.5 days, he recalled his childhood working in a factory during dire poverty: 'Initially we didn't rest at all for a whole month. Then they let us rest once a month … then twice a month … then once a week.' Such changes take time, he suggested when asked when the plans could realistically be implemented.
The Standard
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Standard
South Korea's leader says trade deal with US remains unclear ahead of Trump's deadline
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech during a press conference to mark his first 30 days in office at Yeongbingwan of Blue House on July 3, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. (Reuters)
NHK
03-07-2025
- Politics
- NHK
South Korea's Lee eager to meet Ishiba soon
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has expressed his desire to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru soon to foster bilateral ties through dialogue. Lee held a news conference on Thursday, one day before marking his first month in office. He spoke to reporters at the Blue House, which had served as the president's office for many years. Lee noted that many sensitive issues lie between the two countries. But he said there are also a number of areas in which Seoul and Tokyo can cooperate, including economic matters and security issues related to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The president said private-sector exchanges are active and the two countries are important to one another. Lee also referred to shuttle diplomacy by the two leaders. He said he wants to reduce misunderstandings and increase cooperation through frequent visits and dialog. Lee said he plans to visit Japan, but the schedule has yet to be fixed because of the Upper House election that will be held in Japan this month.
