Korea’s Rising Skyscrapers

Korea’s skyscraper history began with the construction of the 63 Building, a 60-story building 249 meters high, the highest in Asia at the time, in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu in 1985.

Before the 63 Building was built, the 31-story Sam-il building (114 meters), which was constructed in 1969 and is located in Gwancheol-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, was the only tall building in Korea. Since 2003, the 63 Building, which remained the tallest building in Korea over the last 20 years, yielded that honor to the 69-story combined residential and commercial buildings such as the Hyperion in Mokdong, Yangcheon-gu, and the Tower Palace in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu Seoul, to become the third highest building.

Korea’s Tallest Building-

Although the 63 Building is still the nation’s tallest office building, it will drop further down the list in the near future. The 107-story “Busan Lotte World” building is currently under construction (due in 2013), and the construction of a second 112-story Lotte World building is being promoted.

The tallest buildings outside Seoul are also changing one after another.

The First World, a proposed 64-story multi-purpose apartment building that will be the tallest in the Incheon, Gyeonggi region, will be built in Songdo International City, Incheon.

Construction on 54-story apartment buildings has begun in Beomeo-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu, as well.

In Chungcheong Province, where 25-story apartment complexes are the area’s tallest buildings, a skyscraper boom is beginning. In Cheongju City, North Chungcheong Province, a 55-story office building, which will be built on what used to be farmland in Bokdae-dong, Heungdeok-gu, is awaiting construction approval. The Baebang district in the Asan New City region in South Chungcheong Province will soon accommodate a 63-story office building as well.

Yoo Ki-choel, a housing manager at the South Chungcheong provincial office said, “With the construction of the administrative city, the opening of the Korea Train Express Cheonan-Asan station, and the development of the Asan New City district, skyscrapers are starting to rise in this region.”

In South Gyeongsang Province, where most buildings are 20-stories high, a 43-story studio apartment building will be built in Doodae-dong, Changwon City, and a 55-story combined residential and commercial building will be built on the former Koa building site in Ujeong-dong, Jung-gu, Ulsan.

Skyline Diversity-

Combined residential and commercial buildings are leading the skyscraper boom. All the high-rise buildings to be built in Daegu, Ulsan and Changwon are multipurpose apartment or studio apartment buildings.

Concerning the above situation, manager Choi Pil-guk of the Housing Business Team at the Posco Engineering and Construction company noted, “High-rise buildings create diverse exterior appearances and are easy to secure prospect rights too,” and added that lots in high-rise landmark buildings that represent their regions also tend to be sold easier.

However, manager Lee Dong-hee of the construction company Kunwon said, “Skyscrapers make cities look good only when they harmonize with a city and its surrounding buildings,” and expressed concerns, saying, “I’m not sure whether it is always good to build high-rise buildings in small towns.”

imsoo@donga.com