Published Date : Dec 23, 2021 / Edited Date : Apr 08, 2024
Architectural Travel via Sejong-daero, The Widest Road in Seoul
Sejong-daero, which connects Seoul Station to Gwanghwamun Gate, is the widest road in Seoul. Main roads in Seoul, such as Saemunan-ro, Jong-ro, Cheonggyecheon-ro and Namdaemun-ro, stretch around Sejong-daero. Moreover, Sejong-daero is a historically important road because it is connected to famous squares in Seoul, such as Seoul Station Plaza, Seoul Plaza, Cheonggye Plaza, and Gwanghwamun Square.
Sejong-daero is so named because it is not that far from the birthplace of King Sejong, the fourth king of the Joseon dynasty. During the Joseon dynasty, Sejong-daero was not only the widest road, but also the heart of national administration where six major government offices were located. Therefore, it used to be called Yukjo-geori, or “Street of Six Ministries.”
Sejong-daero, which faces Gyeongbokgung Palace, embodies the development process and historical moments of Seoul. Now, let’s walk down Sejong-daero to explore and learn.
Arriving in Seoul on the Train
#Seoul_Station #Culture_Station_Seoul_284
Seoul Station is not only a terminal as a destination for travelers arriving in Seoul, but also the start of their journey in Seoul. It served as a major hub of ground transportation before other modes of transportation were developed. The newly renovated Seoul Station boasts huge glass curtain walls.* Next to it is the old historic building of former Seoul Station. It is a red bricked building with a green domed roof and artificial decorative stones. The former Seoul Station building is built in a European-style architecture and boasts exotic beauty.
* Curtain wall: An outer covering of a building that is non-structural, utilized only to keep the weather out and the occupants in, and usually made of glass or metal plates.
This former Seoul Station building has been reborn as Culture Station Seoul 284. It features Renaissance architectural elements and restored the original design of Gyeongseong Station of 100 years ago. 284 is named after the historic site number of the old Seoul Station. Reopened in 2011, Culture Station Seoul 284 was reborn as a cultural complex by recreating the 1925-era Gyeongseong Station. In Culture Station Seoul 284, you can view a variety of contemporary artworks, surrounded by traditional architectural elements such as Renaissance decorations, stained glass and red bricks. It is a place where history meets the future.
Seoul Station & Culture Station Seoul 284
405, Hangang-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul (Seoul Station)
In front of Seoul Station, you can see a long overpass above busy road traffic. Above the railway of Seoul Station is an overpass that connected the east and west of Seoul in the 1970s. However, it became deteriorated over time and was judged unsafe as a vehicular road. After several discussions, the overpass was transformed into a new facility instead of being demolished. That is how this 1,024-meter-long overpass was reborn as a pedestrian path open to the public. First, let’s look around the Traveler’s Lounge, which resembles the shape of a circle and is located right below the pedestrian path.
The pedestrian path is named Seoullo 7017, which means “an overpass built in 1970 that transformed into a pedestrian path in 2017.” Famous Dutch architecture firm MVRDV proposed to turn the overpass into a botanical garden as well as a hanging garden by planting various flowers and trees. Today, Seoullo 7017 is composed of various flowers and trees, an observatory and a visitor center. Most notably, it provides a panoramic bird’s-eye view of downtown Seoul.
Walking down Sejong-daero, you can see many modern high-rise buildings. Among them, a two-story traditional hanok building easily catches your eyes. It is Sungnyemun Gate, a symbol of Seoul as well as Korea’s number one national treasure. Sungnyemun Gate is one of the four gates within Hanyangdoseong, the Seoul City Wall, which surrounded Hanyang (the former name of Seoul) for 600 years. It is also called Namdaemun Gate because it is located in the south of Seoul. As roads were built around it, Sungnyemun Gate is currently composed of part of the fortress and a gate only. However, it is still the oldest wooden structure in Seoul and the largest among the gates that exist today.
Sungnyemun Gate is composed of granite blocks, an arch-shaped Hongyemun* and a two-story wooden pavilion with five front sections and two side sections. A hipped-roof means a trapezoidal roof. Sungnyemun Gate’s hipped-roof is built in a multi-cluster bracket style.* The roof is colorful, less curved and sturdy, which is the architectural characteristics of the early Joseon dynasty. If you look at the cluster brackets* under the eaves, you will be surprised how elaborately they are attached.
* Hongyemun: A rainbow-shaped gate.
* Multi-cluster bracket style: Multiple clusters of brackets attached on top of pillars as well as between pillars to support the eaves of a building. Cluster brackets attached only on top of pillars are called a column-centered style.
* Cluster brackets: Used to hold the weight of the eaves of a traditional wooden building.
Seoul Plaza has a spacious lawn that faces Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway, which is well known for its beautiful landscape. Seoul Plaza is one of the major plazas in Seoul where various events take place. It also turns into an ice rink in winter. At Seoul Plaza, you can enjoy a full frontal view of Seoul City Hall, which encompasses the past and present. Seoul City Hall is a new building with glass curtain walls, which are reminiscent of waves. In front of Seoul City Hall, there is the Seoul Metropolitan Library which remodeled the former Seoul City Hall building constructed in 1926.
The Seoul Metropolitan Library is a restoration of the former Seoul City Hall with renovated exterior walls, marble hall and central staircase. The library is a historically significant site located in the center of Seoul, which exhibits traditional architectural characteristics. It is a reinforced concrete building whose first floor is decorated with granite blocks on the outside and other floors are decorated, using Renaissance-era lithin* method. It looks like a stone building from a distance because of its rough texture. When you enter the library through an old wooden gate, you can feel as if you are traveling back in time.
* Lithin: A method of mixing marble, cement, sand and water.
Opposite Seoul City Hall stands a low-rise building that appears to hide from the surrounding environment. To its right is the traditional Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway and to its left is the modern Seoul Metropolitan Council while the exotically Korean-slash-Romanesque Seoul Anglican Cathedral stands in the back and Sejong-daero in the front. This building is the Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture where you can enjoy various landscapes of Seoul on the rooftop Seoul Maru.
At the site of the Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture, there was Deogangung Palace, which was a shrine of Imperial Noble Consort Sunheon of the Yeongwol Eom clan. Later, it served as Japanese General Government Building during Japanese occupation of Korea. In 1978, it was used as the National Tax Service’s Namdaemun annex. Then, it was demolished in 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of Korean Independence from Japanese government and remove the trace of Japanese occupation. During demolition, one of the 23 pillars was kept on the rooftop as the building’s construction process was written on it and the remaining were removed. The Seoul Hall of Urbanism & Architecture is composed of three underground floors and one above ground floor where you can enjoy a variety of exhibits pertaining to Seoul’s architecture.
Buildings and architecture form a city, and cities come together to form a country. And that’s why architecture reflects the history and culture of a city as a component of the city. Seoul X Archibear’s A Tour of Seoul’s Streetside Architecture was designed to provide a fresh perspective on the city by sharing the anecdotes of architectural culture while traveling around South Korea’s capital.
Well-built and distinctive architecture can serve as a piece of art carved in our city. And in Seoul, which is rich with diverse history and characteristics, there are beautiful buildings that are worth paying a visit. We hope that this special series helps promote Seoul as an ideal travel destination and invite everyone to experience the hidden architectural beauty in Seoul’s everyday life.
A Tour of Seoul’s Streetside Architecture series was produced by Visit Seoul in collaboration with ArchiBear, a brand created by the architectural culture and travel content company, Haas Studio.
Curious to get more information on architectural tourism in Seoul?
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Seoul Guided Walking Tour Office and Seoul culture and tourism guide are not liable for the safety accidents during the Seoul Guided Walking Tour.
All reservations will be canceled in the event of a weather warning being issued. (e.g. heatwave, typhoon, heavy rain, fine dust, etc.) (Cancellation will be processed immediately upon implementation)
※ Please always check the weather warning on the day of the reservation on the site below.
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