Former Building of Seoul City Hall

This building was constructed in 1926 as the Gyeongseong Prefectural Office, a government building; after Korea's liberation it was used as Seoul City Hall from 1946, and it now serves as the Seoul Metropolitan Library. It was built by Japan during the Japanese colonial period for the purpose of consolidating its occupation of Korea, and it bears witness to the history of Japan's encroachment upon Korea. It is a reinforced-concrete structure of one basement level and six storeys above ground (including two rooftop storeys), designed by a Japanese architect; having gone on to serve as Seoul City Hall after liberation, it is also a historical site embodying Korea's modern history, including the period of the "Miracle on the Hangang River." The exterior is a Renaissance-style design finished in granite and spray-cast plaster, and key elements such as the rooftop retain their original appearance from the time of construction, allowing an assessment of the architectural technology of the period.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Jung-gu, Seoul

Designation

Registered Cultural Heritage · 국가등록문화유산