Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ed Provencher]

When I first got to Korea I thought everything looked exactly the same. Now I can see different styles in architecture. I'll conceal my observations for now and just let you all discuss what you've observed.

Thanks...

[thekakapo]

The stuff that's being build right now looks decent, but the skyline itself is pretty horrible- lots of buildings built on the cheap with little or no thought put into making a structure beautiful.

I think that Seoul in 20 years will be a very different place.

[RACETRAITOR]

Lacking tradition, cheaply built, mass-produced. Today's highrises are nicer than highrises of 10 years ago. It's sad to see older buildings not being preserved. I love the brick neighbourhoods in Seoul. Oh yeah, and I hate all the vanity projects that are popping up everywhere.

Seoul has been named World Design Capital 2010. It probably cost a lot in bribes so maybe we should try to be nice.

[ThingsComeAround]

Older neighborhoods always have more character. When I ride the 1100/1101 into Seoul Station, my favorite is looking to the left up the hill and seeing the hundreds of little homes on the mountain.

Then I look at Incheon, Gimpo, or Songnae and get depressed

[bangbayed]

[samd]

Improving, but a long way to go yet.

[moosehead]

one of the things I miss about nyc - the architecture was so incredible - of course not much can compare w/that - but these high rise apts - I can see how it was necessary for a while to build housing for people - and the husband of my first director told me Ks feel safer in apts than houses - less crime, he said - but all the same - do they have to be built in such stark contrast to the landscape? where's the sense of aesthetics, of style?

a friend's husband is an architect - he builds homes - his are incredible, IMO, he blends western U.S. styles - ranch-like, large brick and wood structures - with K pagoda styles, some modern lines - very interesting and appealing. Unfortunately, they are homes, not large buildings a lot of people see. For some reason architects like him don't ever get a chance to build the larger buildings. until then, we're all limited in the skylines we will view.

[princess]

I've always had this joke that the world's best architects were surely not born in Korea. Seoul has the ugliest architecture I have ever seen. It only looks good at night when it is all lit up. Seoul doesn't look much better than the videos I have seen of Pyongyang's buildings. Guess that isn't saying much. Now, Hong Kong, Singapore and Istanbul have some AMAZING architecture.

I guess the palaces would be about the only buildings in Seoul that look nice. That big green domed National Asssembly building is OK looking, but at night, actually looks good. I think the architecture coupled with the weather here can make someone who is naturally blue get even more depressed. Gray, cold and ugly in winter. Gray and wet and rainy all summer. Excuse me for my ranting, but wasn't this past summer the rainiest ever??? I swear, it rained like every Saturday from the middle of May until like the end of August. What in the world was up with that?

[Tiger Beer]

[in_seoul_2003]

[bluelake]

When I first saw the title, I thought you were referring to Korean traditional architecture; then people only talked about contemporary architecture. I have to agree that the modern style that has been attempted in Korea is usually like it came from a cookie-cutter (or otherwise ugly when an architect tries something different). On the other hand, the traditional hanok buildings are wonders of beauty; every single piece that goes into making one has a name and a purpose and they all go together seamlessly. With that said, as the owner of one, they are a bear to keep up and have to be babied, especially during harsh seasons.

[RACETRAITOR]

[sojourner1]

Seoul is built on such a grand scale, but is terribly ugly and depressing to be honest about it. All the Korean cities I've seen are so butt ugly, but are built with a different intention than being aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The butt ugly buildings are very different on the inside; they're just cheap crap set up to house the many apartments, noraebongs, restaurants, soju bars, and such. Talk about the masses living on top of each other and taking a big dump on each other. Thew newer buildings look shinier and more aesthetically pleasing, but are still big polluters. It's like big doll house soap operas going on.

It's crudely built for the purpose of being functional, but groups of large 1990's versions don't look safe to in or near. They look like paper wafers stacked up being held together by a brittle white or creme cement. And they're also often very thin, but tall. They look like cheaply made disasters waiting to happen you'd buy at Wal*Mart if they sold big buildings. I don't like them and glad I don't have to live in one.

[jkelly80]

Bukchon/Samcheong-dong is niceuh. Also the area northeast of Hongje station, Pyeongchang-dong, is absolutely beautiful, especially the road leading to the Jahamun Hotle.

For the most part, though, Seoul is dull at best, an eyesore at worst.

[John Ep]

I've spoken to a few architects here, the creative type, and they've said that it's impossible to make a living in Seoul. They have to get second jobs.

Given the state of the economy, I would guess that the function over form mentality isn't going to change any time soon.

I would also expect that the government will pour money into high profile projects that look good and allow them to fantasize about Seoul as the "hub of Asia," and only serve the super-rich.