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Architecture in Daehangno and Hyehwa-dong

Leader: Robert J. Fouser

DATE: Sunday, November 27, 2022, 1:00pm to 5:00pm
DESTINATION(S): Daehangno and Seonggyungwan
COST: 25,000 won for members; 30,000 won for non-members

MEETING POINT: At the top of Exit #2 of Hyehwa Sation (Subway Line 4). At 1:00PM.

 

RSVP by November 25 (Friday) by clicking HERE with payment of the fee via bank transfer. Please register one RSVP at a time.

☞Payment to be remitted to the following account:
SHINHAN BANK ACCOUNT # 100-026-383501 (RAS-KB)

*Reservation is not confirmed until payment has been received by RAS Korea in advance of the event.

 

During this excursion of Daehangno and Hyehwa-dong, we will look at a variety of styles of Korean architecture in the 20th century. The excursion will begin around Marronnier Park, which were where Seoul National University and its Japanese colonial forerunner, the Gyeongseong Imperial University, were located. Several university buildings built during the colonial period still stand, including the former headquarters building which was designed by Park Gil-yong (1898-1943), a noted Korean architect during the colonial period. The Marronnier Park area is also home to three buildings designed by Kim Swoo-geun (1931-86), Korea’s most famous 20th-century architect. The buildings have ornate brick work and multi-leveled spaces, which typified Kim’s style in the 1970s.

From the Marronnier Park area, we will make our way to Hyehwa-dong. There, we will explore nearby alleys, stopping at the JCC Arts Center Concert Hall designed by Ando Tadao, on our way to the house of former Prime Minister Chang Myon. Chang led Korea between the fall of Syngman Rhee in 1960 and Park Jung-hee’s coup d’état in 1961. Though based on hanok design concepts, the house includes Western and Japanese styles and is an excellent example of mid-20th century upper-class residential architecture. From here we will make our way to the Sungkyunkwan University, passing several interesting hanoks (traditional Korean-style houses) on the way.

Sungkyunkwan University traces its roots to the Gukjagam, a national Confucian school that was founded in 992 during the Goryeo Dynasty; the name Seonggyungwan was first used in 1308. King Taejo, the founder of Joseon Dynasty, moved the school to its present location in the new capital of Hanyang in 1398. We will take a close at remaining buildings of the Seonggyungwan centering on the Munmyo Shrine in honor of Confucius. The Myeongnyundang, the main lecture hall, was rebuilt in 1606. The Daeseongjeon was rebuilt in 1601 and contains 39 spirit tablets of Confucian scholars from China and Korea. It is the site of the Seokjeon Daeje ceremonies honoring Confucius held in the spring and fall every year. Subsidiary buildings include administrative offices, a dormitory, a library, and an examination hall. The site also contains historic trees, including two ginkgo trees planted in 1519.

Next, we will walk past a house designed by Kim Swoo-geun in 1983 as we make our way to a small former “redevelopment district” lined with hanoks, which is now gentrifying. From here, we will walk through commercial areas of Daehangno and look at examples of commercial architecture and signage from the 1990s to the present. As we make our way back to Hyehwa Station, we look at the administration building Seoul National University College of Medicine, another colonial era building, and the Main Building of Former National Industrial Institute on the campus of Korea National Open University.

We will begin the excursion at 13:00 at Exit #2 of Hyehwa Station (Subway Line 4). The excursion will last until about 17:00 and end at Hyehwa Station. Participants may join Robert afterwards for a coffee or an early dinner (not included in the excursion fee) in the neighborhood. The walk is mostly flat, but comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

 

** As our excursion leaders are often too focused on leading to take photos of their own tours, we hope that you will consider sharing with us a few photos from the excursion, or write a sentence or two about your experience that we could use in future promotional efforts on behalf of the society.  Any quotes, photos, videos, or other material would be used with attribution. 

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