Colonial Korea

Early Modern Architecture in Korea, 1850s-1950s.

Welcome to Colonial Korea, a website providing historical information, photos, observations, and opinions on Korea’s early modern architectural history and urban development. To read more, please click on the “Articles & Photo Essays” tab or, if you’re looking for something specific, scroll down to use the search function.

The Chosun Hotel

February 4, 2018

Once called “the Ritz Hotel of the Far East”,1 the Chosen Hotel was, for a time, the last word in luxury and comfort in Korea. Dignitaries, statesmen, royalty, celebrities, casual travelers, and locals graced its elegant spaces with their presence. Militaries occupied it as one would a barracks, and officers used it as their billet, … More The Chosun Hotel

Early Modern Brick and the Perforated Qing Cross

December 17, 2017

Before the rise of reinforced concrete, brick was the heart and soul of many an early modern building in Korea. Red brick architecture arrived in the 19th century, with some of the earliest (non-palace) examples being the Busan Japanese Administration Office in 1879, the Sechang Trading Company in 1884, the Beonsachang Armory in Seoul (1884-present),1 … More Early Modern Brick and the Perforated Qing Cross

The Comfort, Construction, and Social Views of Common Homes in Colonial Korea

October 29, 2017

The period of Japanese imperialism was one of architectural experimentation. As architects came to find out, some of the Western designs were misfit for the Japanese climate. Something similar happened in colonial Taiwan when, after realizing that termites were chewing up their wooden buildings, architects turned to reinforced concrete. This resulted in cement manufacturing years … More The Comfort, Construction, and Social Views of Common Homes in Colonial Korea

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