Seoul City Hall
Encyclopedia
Seoul City Hall is a governmental building for the Seoul Metropolitan Government
in South Korea
, in charge of the administrative affairs of Seoul
. It is located in Taepyeongno
, Jung-gu
, the heart of Seoul. It's located next to City Hall Station (Seoul)
on Seoul Subway Line 1
. In front of the city hall is Seoul Plaza
.
The building was built by the Japanese occupation government
in 1926. After liberation from Japan, it served the Seoul city government. The city hall was expanded 6 times. The main building was designated a registered cultural property of the Republic of Korea. The North building was built in 1962 and the new building in 1986. Both were demolished in 2006 to make way for a new city hall construction.
A large digital clock for the building was installed in 1975, and replaced with an analogue counterpart when Lee Myung-bak
was mayor of Seoul.
There was a competition for a new city hall. The jury awarded the prize to Yoo Kerl of iArc
on February 18, 2008. Yoo said, "Major keywords for designing the new building are traditions, citizens, future. I analysed low-rise horizontal elements, curvaceousness and shades of leaves in our traditional architectural characteristics, and I applied these to the design so I can recall comfortable feelings of old things."
Seoul Metropolitan Government
Seoul Metropolitan Government is the administrative organization of Seoul. The mayor is elected to a four year term by the Seoul citizens and is responsible for the administration of the city government...
in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, in charge of the administrative affairs of Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. It is located in Taepyeongno
Taepyeongno
Taepyeongno is a major thoroughfare in the central districts of Seoul, South Korea and the second longest road next to Sejongno in the Gangbuk area. With a 1.1 km length and a 50m width, Taepyeongno originates at 139 Sejongno in Jongno-gu and terminates at Namdaemun in Jung-gu. It runs southwards...
, Jung-gu
Jung-gu, Seoul
Jung-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the north side of the Han River, and is the historical center of the city .-Overview:...
, the heart of Seoul. It's located next to City Hall Station (Seoul)
City Hall Station (Seoul)
City Hall Station is a station on the Seoul Subway Line 1 and Seoul Subway Line 2. As its name suggests, Seoul City Hall is located right next to the station. Deoksugung, a historic palace of the Joseon dynasty, is on the other side of the boulevard named Taepyeongno.-Places:Seoul Museum of Art is...
on Seoul Subway Line 1
Seoul Subway Line 1
Seoul Subway Line 1 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, formerly known as the Korea National Railroad of Seoul, is an operation channel which links central Seoul, South Korea to Soyosan Station in the northeast, Incheon in the southwest, and Asan via Suwon in the south. This line covers a large part...
. In front of the city hall is Seoul Plaza
Seoul Plaza
Seoul Plaza is a central plaza located in front of Seoul City Hall at Taepyeongno, Jung-gu in Seoul, South Korea. It was reopened on May 1, 2004, by Seoul Metropolitan Government with the purpose of providing the public an open space...
.
The building was built by the Japanese occupation government
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
in 1926. After liberation from Japan, it served the Seoul city government. The city hall was expanded 6 times. The main building was designated a registered cultural property of the Republic of Korea. The North building was built in 1962 and the new building in 1986. Both were demolished in 2006 to make way for a new city hall construction.
A large digital clock for the building was installed in 1975, and replaced with an analogue counterpart when Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak is the President of South Korea. Prior to his presidency, he was the CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction and the mayor of Seoul. He is married to Kim Yoon-ok and has three daughters and one son. His older brother is Lee Sang-deuk, a South Korean politician. He attends the...
was mayor of Seoul.
There was a competition for a new city hall. The jury awarded the prize to Yoo Kerl of iArc
IArc
iArc is an internationally awarded architectural practice based in Seoul, South Korea, led by three partners; Kerl Yoo AIA, Jeongim Kim and Tesoc Hah RIBA. It creates new topography in Korean architectural design scene.- Awards :...
on February 18, 2008. Yoo said, "Major keywords for designing the new building are traditions, citizens, future. I analysed low-rise horizontal elements, curvaceousness and shades of leaves in our traditional architectural characteristics, and I applied these to the design so I can recall comfortable feelings of old things."
External links
- Seoul Metropolitan Government(Korean site)
- Skyscrapercity