The Old Seoul Post Office, destroyed during the Korean War in the early 1950s. Its replacement in the exact same spot is an eyesore and widely cited as the ugliest building in Seoul. However, surviving historical colonial and protectorate-era buildings remain standing in the same neighborhood.
This is a country that endured foreign colonial rule for many years. A European-style building may not look so beautiful in their capital.
Iliketrucks2says
What blows my mind about this building is how Majestic it was, how much work and design went into making it beautiful. This shows how important the mail was then – it was worthwhile investing that kind of time/energy/money to install confidence, to exude capability and steadfastness.
So strange to think of the postal service in those terms now. I literally check my mail once a month and it’s 99% junk and 1% stuff I got online already but they still send paper for.
mokyungsungsays
I personally as a Korean born and raised in Seoul I like that this building no longer is there. Many old Western style buildings built by the late Korean Empire and Joseon Dynasty are being preserved and restored to their former glory.
No reason to keep buildings from 35 years of brutal foreign occupation.
Pure aesthetics are not a reason to keep anything that represents a ideology as evil as that of Imperial Japan.
I_love_pillows says
What does the ugly building look like
Pcan42 says
So it looks like it could’ve been saved?
melafephoner says
This is a country that endured foreign colonial rule for many years. A European-style building may not look so beautiful in their capital.
Iliketrucks2 says
What blows my mind about this building is how Majestic it was, how much work and design went into making it beautiful. This shows how important the mail was then – it was worthwhile investing that kind of time/energy/money to install confidence, to exude capability and steadfastness.
So strange to think of the postal service in those terms now. I literally check my mail once a month and it’s 99% junk and 1% stuff I got online already but they still send paper for.
mokyungsung says
I personally as a Korean born and raised in Seoul I like that this building no longer is there. Many old Western style buildings built by the late Korean Empire and Joseon Dynasty are being preserved and restored to their former glory.
No reason to keep buildings from 35 years of brutal foreign occupation.
Pure aesthetics are not a reason to keep anything that represents a ideology as evil as that of Imperial Japan.