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Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
'Hanok Avengers' on future of Korean architecture
Korea Herald's 'Architecture Talk: Evolving Hanok' raises hopes for hanok's future The Korea Herald's "Architecture Talk: Evolving Hanok" brought together a group of so-called 'Hanok Avengers' on Wednesday at the Eundeok Cultural Center — a beautifully restored, century-old building in central Seoul that exemplifies the elegance of traditional Korean architecture. Building on a six-part series titled "Evolving Hanok" published in May by The Korea Herald, the third edition of the annual "Architecture Talk" was jointly hosted with the state-run Architecture & Urban Research Institute. Dubbed the 'Hanok Avengers' by Shin Chi-hoo, manager and research fellow at the National Hanok Center, the speakers shared insights and experiences that reflected the current state -- and evolving identity -- of hanok in contemporary Korea. In addition to Shin, the event featured leading figures in the field: Hwang Doo-jin, director of Doojin Hwang Architects; Jeon Bong-hee, an architecture professor at Seoul National University; Cho Jung-goo of guga Urban Architecture; Kim Yong-mi, architect and CEO of GS Architects & Associates; and Daniel Tandler, co-founder of Urbandetail Architecture. 'The National Hanok Center had set the goal of achieving a hanok renaissance by 2022, but we failed. We will achieve that goal by 2032,' Shin said, emphasizing that many hanok neighborhoods have vanished under a development-first mindset. Still, the fact that such a goal could even be articulated marks a significant cultural shift. Over the past decade, the notion of a hanok renaissance has gained momentum, fueled by devoted architects, policy support and growing interest from younger generations. Kim, the panelist with the longest experience working with hanok, recalled once thinking her passion for traditional Korean architecture was just a personal preference -- one decidedly outside the mainstream. That changed when she came across architect Hwang Doo-jin's 2006 book, "Hanok Has Returned." 'I was shocked,' she said, adding that the book transformed her view, helping her realize that her passion was part of a larger, emerging movement. Kim also reflected on a small but meaningful gathering she had a decade ago with fellow architects Hwang Doo-jin and Cho Jung-goo -- all passionate about hanok. Since then, the small group of architects who are engaged seriously in hanok design has remained largely the same, Kim noted, except for one notable addition: Tandler. At the time, Tandler was just beginning to explore hanok. Today, he is recognized for his dedication to the form and his growing contributions to its evolution. "We need to worry less about making mistakes. As people do experiments with hanok, there will inevitably be some strange outcomes. And that's okay -- people can simply see them and move on," Tandler said. "Because building hanok is far from the futuristic images of sci-fi movies, there once was a time that I thought I wasn't taking part in building the future. I now believe we need to create new architectural spaces that align with the concepts and philosophies of our time -- spaces that even Millennials and Generation Z can appreciate," Cho said. The discussion also touched on key elements that define hanok and offered valuable insights for those still grappling with what the term truly means. Among those reflecting on hanok's evolving identity was Dagmar Schmidt Tartagli, the ambassador of Switzerland to Korea, who shared with the roughly 90 participants the embassy's experience of introducing the 'Swiss Hanok.' 'The Swiss Hanok' came about through an open architecture competition. 'At first, people told us, 'This is not a hanok,' because it wasn't built in the traditional way or linked to heritage hanok construction,' she explained. 'Yet the more I listened to this architectural debate on what hanok can become, the more I understood. People began referring to the embassy as the 'Swiss Hanok.' When you incorporate these elements — the madang, the light, the spatial flow -- there's also a kind of globalization aspect," Tartagli said. From the international community in Seoul, Michela Linda Magri, director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Seoul, and Marie Antonia von Schonburg, President & CEO of the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, were among those attending the event. Choi Jin-young, president of Herald Media Group, spoke about how his mood shifted upon entering the hanok. 'After going through all sorts of big and small meetings, by around lunchtime I often find myself completely drained. The workload is quite intense, and today was one of those days. But the moment I stepped into this place, all that fatigue just melted away. I felt an incredible sense of calm — as if I had arrived at a sanctuary for the soul,' he said. Choi Jong-bok, chairman of Zyx Technology, which was one of the sponsors of the event, expressed his confidence and aspiration to become a global leader in CAD solutions for architecture, especially for hanok. gypark@
Korea Herald
11-05-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Can multistory hanok be defined as traditional Korean housing?
In reimagining hanok, Hwang Doo-jin does not preserve past, but builds future where tradition, innovation live under same roof Hanok, the architectural style of traditional Korean homes, is of a premodern time since when the way people live has changed drastically, which means hanok must evolve to continue to house those living in the 21st century. Hwang Doo-jin, the director of Doojin Hwang Architects who has won two grand prizes in the National Hanok Competition held by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, for Mokgyeongheon and the L residence, told The Korea Herald that he believes that hanok's evolution lies in the integration of the traditional strengths of hanok architecture and modern buildings. "You can open the windows on a rainy day in a hanok. The eaves above the windows protect you, so even if the rain is pouring down, you can still open the windows, and air circulation is maintained. This is an idea that can benefit everyone," Hwang said. There are many features like this in hanok design, and there is still a lot of potential for these concepts to contribute to modern architecture, he explains. "That, to me, is the true evolution of hanok.' Hwang tries to implement such hanok features into at least 25 percent of his modern architecture, contemplating better ways to convey hanok's value into modern architecture. In the early 2000s, when modernization of hanok began in earnest, many architects thought of it as regression, questioning the need for such a movement. "Hanok has become something of a genre. People tend to view hanok as a conservative form of architecture, but the truth is that modern architecture, which incorporates and internalizes the virtues of hanok, is actually a topic that is well-regarded in the general architectural world. This is because no one denies the significance of traditional architecture. The difference lies in whether or not we handle these elements in a way that is directly recognizable as hanok. I believe hanok can be included as part of the modern architectural repertoire." Another evolution of hanok is moving vertically. "The traditional hanok we usually talk about are not very large in scale. However, in modern society, we need to fit more people into a limited amount of space. So, we need to seriously consider whether it's possible to evolve hanok architecture into something more vertical. However, doing that would lead to a significant change in its appearance. People might no longer view it as a hanok." Hwang was the first architect to build a two-story residential hanok, Mokgyeongheon, in Eunpyeong Hanok Village in Seoul, for which he earned the grand prize in the National Hanok Competition held by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2016. "Since it's a two-story house, there are spaces that don't exist in traditional hanok. For example, a two-story 'daecheongmaru' (a large open hall) is not part of traditional hanok design. Additionally, the house has a basement, and there's a large fireplace in the basement living room,' explained Hwang. "In fact, there are many people who are critical of this. They say, 'What kind of hanok is a two-story hanok?' And there are various opinions like that. However, I see it as a case where hanok architecture has adapted very well to the context of the 21st century." In that context, Hwang believes that hanok, mostly perceived as residential, could become more common as a form of public architecture on a much larger scale. 'Many regional buildings were constructed in hanok style. One of the most beautiful examples of a hanok building is Yeongwol Station in Gangwon Province," Hwang said. The station was built 70 years ago, soon after the Korean War, "and it's incredibly beautiful. That's a great example of hanok used as a public facility." "In fact, across the country, there are many cases where village libraries, community centers and such have been built in hanok style. I think it would be great if this concept were applied to elementary schools, kindergartens and day care centers as well. This is what I believe is important when it comes to the future of hanok architecture," he added. Hanok is also a sustainable form of architecture, much more environmentally friendly than other forms of architecture that use concrete and steel. 'Wood is essentially a form of carbon storage. Through carbon fixation, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store it in their structure. If we let the wood decay, the carbon is released back into the atmosphere, worsening global warming. But when we use wood in buildings and maintain it well, like in hanok, we can keep the carbon fixed in place, helping to delay global warming. Hanok buildings, if properly cared for, can last for centuries, contributing to sustainability by reducing carbon emissions." As an architect, Hwang says his dream is to become the chief architect of Kaesong — the Goryeo Kingdom capital located in North Korea where some South Korean businesses had bases of production until 2016 — and to see his vision for a collaborative hanok industry between South and North Korea come to life. He believes such collaboration would contribute to the modernization and widespread use of hanok architecture. "If reunification occurs, one potential benefit could be reducing the cost of building hanok. Currently, we rely on expensive pine logging in the mountains of Gangwon Province, but in Siberia, pine trees are abundant and cheaper. If we could secure logging rights in Siberia and establish hanok schools and factories in the Kaesong industrial park, we could lower production costs, making hanok more affordable and accessible," he explained. "Kaesong, which already has many hanok buildings, could become a hub for efficient hanok production. This is my vision — to see this idea implemented and, as an architect, to someday play a key role in shaping Kaesong's architectural future." Renewed interest in hanok, or traditional Korean houses, is palpable today, demonstrated by the growing number of hanok cultural facilities, cafes, accommodations and homes. While some new hanok architecture espouses the traditional form dating from the Joseon era, hanok buildings that have been adapted to contemporary conditions and lifestyles are also gaining ground. In this series, entitled 'Evolving Hanok,' The Korea Herald explores how hanok continue to evolve to stay relevant to current milieus. — Ed. yoohong@
