General Park Chung-Hee's May 16th, 1961 coup d'etat was perhaps the single most important event in South Korean history since independence in 1948 (see also post-53 and post-54).
General Park successfully seized control of Seoul in the pre-dawn hours. Victorious, he posed for photographs that very day in front of Seoul City Hall:
General Park successfully seized control of Seoul in the pre-dawn hours. Victorious, he posed for photographs that very day in front of Seoul City Hall:
General Park Chung-Hee (in sunglasses) / May 1961 / In front of Seoul City Hall
See the wooden doors in the back at left, in front of which five soldiers are standing? You can easily stand in front of these same doors, even 53 years later. These were the front doors to Seoul City Hall.
Here it is today. See the same doors?
Here it is today. See the same doors?
Seoul City Hall today (with new black glass building behind)
That black building behind is the New City Hall (2008 to present). The front building, the former City Hall (1928-2008), is now a museum and/or library. The huge grassy area in front of both is frequently used for events.
But why did they make the New City Hall such a weird shape?
But why did they make the New City Hall such a weird shape?
My impression is that they thought it looked sleek and futuristic and thus symbolized a new Korea.
A tidal wave of futuristic fury, splashing over the dusty-looking old City Hall. That's how it looks to me. I interpret it to be meant as a metaphor for South Korea moving into a new world, washing away its historical "baggage" of War, Dictatorship, Terror, Foreign Occupation, and Economic Misery. Those are things that Koreans feel defined the majority of the period during which that stone building served as City Hall. All have been washed away by the unstoppable tide of Korean progress and advancement towards status as a global leader (...is the idea).
Certain angles make this "tidal wave" visualization very clear:
A tidal wave of futuristic fury, splashing over the dusty-looking old City Hall. That's how it looks to me. I interpret it to be meant as a metaphor for South Korea moving into a new world, washing away its historical "baggage" of War, Dictatorship, Terror, Foreign Occupation, and Economic Misery. Those are things that Koreans feel defined the majority of the period during which that stone building served as City Hall. All have been washed away by the unstoppable tide of Korean progress and advancement towards status as a global leader (...is the idea).
Certain angles make this "tidal wave" visualization very clear:
Images from here
The opening of the New City Hall also coincided with the 60th anniversary of South Korea's foundation (Summer 1948). This summer (2014) will mark 66 years of independence.
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