South Korea: Seoul City Hall

Getty Images/Moment Open

Seoul City Hall

Myeong-dong & Jung-gu


Looking like a tsunami made of glass and steel, Seoul City Hall was completely redeveloped in 2013 and now is a major architectural attraction of the city. It is a modern reinterpretation of traditional Korean design; the cresting wave provides shade (like the curved eaves found on palaces and temple roofs in Korea) over the handsome old City Hall, which was built from stone in 1926 and is now a library.

Inside is the impressive Green Wall, a vertical garden ascending seven floors and covering 1516m2, making it formerly the largest in the world according to Guinness World Records in 2013.

Alongside it are the twisted white balloons of art installation 'Metaseosa Seobeol', interpreting the capital's 2000-year turbulent history through a play of light and form to symbolise hope and myth.

Don't miss riding the glass elevator for an even closer look at these City Hall installations. On the 8th floor is the Sky Plaza Gallery with photo and art exhibitions.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Myeong-dong & Jung-gu attractions

1. Seoul Metropolitan Library

Opened in 2012, the Seoul Metropolitan Library is within the original City Hall's Renaissance-style building, constructed in 1926, that's fronted by a…

2. Gungisi Relics Exhibition Hall

0.01 MILES

Head down to the basement of City Hall to this glassed-in archaeological site displaying items dating from the Joseon dynasty unearthed during excavation…

3. Citizens Hall

0.01 MILES

Head down to City Hall's basement to reach Citizens Hall, a multipurpose space with an interesting mix of multimedia art exhibitions, design shops and a…

4. Seoul Plaza

0.06 MILES

Seoul Plaza, fronting City Hall, is the scene for events and free performances most nights during summer, as well as an outdoor ice-skating rink for a…

5. Deoksugung Stone Wall Road

0.13 MILES

Outside to the left of Deoksugung's main gate, the palace's stone southern wall creates a curved path shaded by 130 trees with benches where locals stop…

6. Hamnyeongjeon

0.14 MILES

A part of Deoksugung, this building served as Emperor Gojong’s living quarters.

7. Jeonggwanheon

0.14 MILES

Within the Deoksugung complex, the interesting fusion-style pavilion Jeonggwanheon was designed by Russian architect Aleksey Seredin-Sabatin as a place…

8. Junghwajeon

0.19 MILES

Serving as Deoksugung’s main throne hall, Junghwajeon was used for ceremonial occasions such as coronations, and is adorned with dragons and golden window…