Main Building of the Bank of Korea, Seoul

Begun in 1907, foundation stone laid 1909, completed 1912 as the head office of the Bank of Chosen. It became the Bank of Korea in 1950. It was the central bank of a colony, built to run an economy for somebody else's benefit, and the foundation stone carries the calligraphy of Ito Hirobumi with the date in the Korean Empire's own reign name — which is about as compact a summary of 1909 as a building can offer. Steel and concrete faced in dressed granite, a basement and three floors, in a Renaissance manner. The interior burned during the Korean War and was repaired in 1956. A new building went up behind it in 1987 and this one was restored to its original form; it is a currency museum now, and free.

Original Text

Where it is

Region

Jung-gu, Seoul

Designation

Historic Site · 사적