Japanese General Government Building, Seoul
Encyclopedia
The Japanese Government-General Building (often referred outside of Korea as the Seoul Capitol) was the chief administrative building in Keijo (Seoul) during the Japanese colonial rule of Korea
and the seat of the Governor-General of Korea
. It was a neo-classical building designed by German
architect
Georg De Lalande, and was completed in 1926. Although the building was later the scene of numerous important events for the Republic of Korea
, housing first the National Assembly
and later the National Museum of Korea
, it was long felt to be a symbol of Japanese imperialism and was demolished
between 1995 and 1996.
lost its independence to Japan in 1910, Seoul was made the Japanese colonial capital. It was decided in 1911 to erect a building in Seoul to house the Japanese administration.
The building was deliberately constructed inside the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the former Korean imperial palace, to obstruct the view of Gyeongbokgung from central Seoul and to legimitize Japanese rule, and all but 10 of the 400 palace buildings were demolished; further demolitions were prevented only by a campaign by Japanese intellectual Muneyoshi Yanagi
. The new structure was a grey granite building with a copperplate dome. Its floorplan allegedly was set up in the form of the first character in the Japanese
name for Japan, Nippon (日本). Architect De Lalande, who had lived in Japan since 1901 and had designed numerous administrative buildings there, died in 1914 and was succeeded on the project by Japanese architect Nomura Ichiro. Construction began on June 25, 1916 and the structure was officially opened ten years later.
The United States
military received the Japanese surrender in Korea at the building. Later, in 1948, with the founding of the Republic of Korea
, it served as South Korea's National Assembly
until the present building was opened in 1975; President Syngman Rhee
took the oath of office
on its steps. In 1985, it became home to the National Museum.
For many years the building was Seoul's largest and most imposing; only in the construction boom of the 1970s did it begin to be dwarfed by adjacent office buildings and skyscrapers.
became president in 1993. In August of that year, he announced that it would be demolished, beginning in 1995, the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and Japanese colonial rule, as well as the 600th anniversary of Gyeongbokgung
. Plans were announced for a new National Museum. There was intense public debate on the issue, with Kim and other demolition proponents arguing that the building was a symbol of Japanese rule that had been built deliberately to deface Gyeongbokgung. Opponents countered that Korea, now a wealthy nation, was no longer troubled by such symbolism and that reminders of the Japanese era were needed; many opposed the move on the grounds of the expense incurred and the merit of the existing building (other Japanese-era buildings, such as the old Seoul Station
and Seoul City Hall
, are considered landmarks of the city). A proposal was made to move the building to a new site, although this would have been far more expensive than demolition.
Nevertheless, demolition began on South Korea's Liberation Day
, August 15, 1995, with the removal of the dome. By late 1996, the building was completely gone. Today, the dome and several other recognizable pieces of the building can be seen at Cheonan
's Independence Hall
museum, as part of a monument to commemorate the history behind the building and its demolition.
Korea under Japanese rule
Korea was under Japanese rule as part of Japan's 35-year imperialist expansion . Japanese rule ended in 1945 shortly after the Japanese defeat in World War II....
and the seat of the Governor-General of Korea
Governor-General of Korea
The post of Japanese Governor-General of Korea served as the chief administrator of the Japanese government in Korea while it was held as the Japanese colony of Chōsen from 1910 to 1945...
. It was a neo-classical building designed by German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Georg De Lalande, and was completed in 1926. Although the building was later the scene of numerous important events for the Republic of Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, housing first the National Assembly
National Assembly of South Korea
The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is a 299-member unicameral legislature. The latest general elections were held on April 9, 2008. Single-member constituencies comprise 245 of the National Assembly's seats, while the remaining 54 are allocated by proportional representation...
and later the National Museum of Korea
National Museum of Korea
The National Museum of Korea is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in South Korea and is the cultural organization that represents Korea...
, it was long felt to be a symbol of Japanese imperialism and was demolished
Demolition
Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
between 1995 and 1996.
History
After KoreaKorea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
lost its independence to Japan in 1910, Seoul was made the Japanese colonial capital. It was decided in 1911 to erect a building in Seoul to house the Japanese administration.
The building was deliberately constructed inside the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the former Korean imperial palace, to obstruct the view of Gyeongbokgung from central Seoul and to legimitize Japanese rule, and all but 10 of the 400 palace buildings were demolished; further demolitions were prevented only by a campaign by Japanese intellectual Muneyoshi Yanagi
Yanagi Soetsu
, also known as Yanagi Muneyoshi, was a Japanese philosopher and founder of the mingei movement in Japan in the late 1920s and 1930s.-Life:In 1916, Yanagi made his first trip to Korea out of curiosity about Korean crafts...
. The new structure was a grey granite building with a copperplate dome. Its floorplan allegedly was set up in the form of the first character in the Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
name for Japan, Nippon (日本). Architect De Lalande, who had lived in Japan since 1901 and had designed numerous administrative buildings there, died in 1914 and was succeeded on the project by Japanese architect Nomura Ichiro. Construction began on June 25, 1916 and the structure was officially opened ten years later.
The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military received the Japanese surrender in Korea at the building. Later, in 1948, with the founding of the Republic of Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, it served as South Korea's National Assembly
National Assembly of South Korea
The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is a 299-member unicameral legislature. The latest general elections were held on April 9, 2008. Single-member constituencies comprise 245 of the National Assembly's seats, while the remaining 54 are allocated by proportional representation...
until the present building was opened in 1975; President Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee
Syngman Rhee or Yi Seungman was the first president of South Korea. His presidency, from August 1948 to April 1960, remains controversial, affected by Cold War tensions on the Korean peninsula and elsewhere. Rhee was regarded as an anti-Communist and a strongman, and he led South Korea through the...
took the oath of office
Oath of office
An oath of office is an oath or affirmation a person takes before undertaking the duties of an office, usually a position in government or within a religious body, although such oaths are sometimes required of officers of other organizations...
on its steps. In 1985, it became home to the National Museum.
For many years the building was Seoul's largest and most imposing; only in the construction boom of the 1970s did it begin to be dwarfed by adjacent office buildings and skyscrapers.
Demolition
The issue of the building's future was opened after Kim Young-samKim Young-sam
Kim Young-sam was a South Korean politician and democratic activist. From 1961, he spent 30 years as South Korea's leader of the opposition, and one of Park Chung-hee's most powerful rivals....
became president in 1993. In August of that year, he announced that it would be demolished, beginning in 1995, the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and Japanese colonial rule, as well as the 600th anniversary of Gyeongbokgung
Gyeongbokgung
Gyeongbokgung, also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, is a royal palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. First constructed in 1394 and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty...
. Plans were announced for a new National Museum. There was intense public debate on the issue, with Kim and other demolition proponents arguing that the building was a symbol of Japanese rule that had been built deliberately to deface Gyeongbokgung. Opponents countered that Korea, now a wealthy nation, was no longer troubled by such symbolism and that reminders of the Japanese era were needed; many opposed the move on the grounds of the expense incurred and the merit of the existing building (other Japanese-era buildings, such as the old Seoul Station
Seoul Station
Seoul Station is a major railway station in Seoul, South Korea. The station is served by the Gyeongbu Line, its high-speed counterpart and the Gyeongui Line, with frequent high-speed, express, and local services to various points in South Korea.-Services:...
and Seoul City Hall
Seoul City Hall
Seoul City Hall is a governmental building for the Seoul Metropolitan Government in South Korea, in charge of the administrative affairs of Seoul. It is located in Taepyeongno, Jung-gu, the heart of Seoul. It's located next to City Hall Station on Seoul Subway Line 1. In front of the city hall is...
, are considered landmarks of the city). A proposal was made to move the building to a new site, although this would have been far more expensive than demolition.
Nevertheless, demolition began on South Korea's Liberation Day
Gwangbokjeol
Gwangbokjeol, celebrated annually on August 15, is one of the Public holidays in South Korea. It commemorates Victory over Japan Day, which liberated Korea from colonial rule...
, August 15, 1995, with the removal of the dome. By late 1996, the building was completely gone. Today, the dome and several other recognizable pieces of the building can be seen at Cheonan
Cheonan
Cheonan is a city located in the northeast corner of South Chungcheong, a province of South Korea, and is 83.6 km south of the capital, Seoul...
's Independence Hall
Independence Hall of Korea
The Independence Hall of Korea is a history museum in Cheonan, South Korea. Opened on August 15, 1987, it has the largest exhibition facility in Korea with total floor area of 23,424 m²...
museum, as part of a monument to commemorate the history behind the building and its demolition.
See also
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- Korean architectureKorean architectureKorean architecture refers to the built environment of Korea from c. 30,000 BC to the present.-Introduction:From a technical point of view, buildings are structured vertically and horizontally...