Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EARLY MODERN & COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE
In the late 19th century, Western and Japanese missionaries, traders and diplomats flooded
into the Hermit Kingdom. The architecture of this period is often regarded as 'colonial', al-
though some of it purely represents Korean attempts to modernise along Western lines.
Churches were usually designed by French, American or Brit-
ish missionaries, including wonderful examples of Gothic and
Romanesque styles, but much of Seoul's early modern architec-
tural heritage was built by the Japanese, who destroyed signific-
ant chunks of the capital's traditional buildings (particularly
palaces) in the process.
Top Early
Modern &
Colonial
Buildings
Japanese colonial architects often emulated Western Renais-
sance and neo-baroque architectural styles, although you'll also
find the occasional art nouveau or other modernist style thrown
in.
Cheondogyo
Myeong-dong Cathedral
Former Bank of Korea HQ
Former Seoul Station (Culture
Station Seoul 284)
Seodaemun Prison
