Modern architecture in Korea: cities of skyscrapers

Investigations and activities (History/SOSE Focus)

1. Go to the Glass, Steel and Stone website to view an image of the Jongno Tower. You can register your opinion about the architecture of this building on this site. How would you describe the building? Why do developers construct such tall buildings?
2. The Glass, Steel and Stone website has images of many skyscrapers built in Seoul. Explore these images.You will also find information about Seoul's skyscrapers on the Emporis website. In a class discussion, talk about why so many have been built and what these statistics tell you about economic development in Seoul. What are the positives and negatives of this kind of development for the average Korean worker?
3. Read more about low-rise buildings and other buildings in Seoul, including sports stadiums, towers and monuments on the Emporis website. Select one of these and prepare a brief talk to share your findings.
4. Read about the proposed Lotte World II Hotel on the Wikipedia website or the Emporis website. This proposed building was originally planned to reach a height of 800 metres. Find out why there are arguments against the construction of this building.
5. Why don’t you find so many skyscrapers in Australian cities? Find out how many skyscrapers there are in the capital city of your state and the latest developments in high-rise building in other Australian cities.
6. There are many kinds of traditional buildings across Korea listed as worth preserving for their heritage value. These include traditional houses, temples and other structures. Find out more about what buildings are being preserved in Korea today and why.
7. Visit the Emporis website and compare Jongno Tower with other major buildings around the world.