In 1961, the Republic of Korea’s first newly-constructed government building was completed. The government building, as ROK office, was erected as a twin with the USOM office in Sejong-ro. The reason why the ROK office and the USOM office were erected as a twin building is that the two offices were part of Foreign Operation Administration’s Seoul Buildings Project in 1954. Within the project, the FOA office and the ROK office were rarely separated, and naturally, the ROK office was built according to the US standards. The planning, design, and construction phases which led by the US government were involved in the US architecture, engineering-construction companies. Because those AEC companies were familiar with the US technology and standards. In the phase of construction, Korean companies took part in the process under the supervise of Vinnell Corporation. The US expected to transfer its ‘modern’ and ‘developed’ technology through this process. The completed ROK office was widely known as the ‘modern style (hyundae-sik)’ building, which was body forth as glasses and new facilities. These factors were what the US emphasized for exporting architecture. The modifier, ‘modern style (hyundae-sik)’, given to the ROK office in the 1950s was a synonym for any new feeling that had never been seen hitherto. The newness of the ROK office, the ‘modern style (hyundae-sik)’ building, was specified as materials and facilities that indicates modern technology while in the absence of adequate knowledge.

This study examines the site and erection of the Government Complex Seoul which was a project attempted to assemble dispersed government buildings in a certain place. The study focuses on the fact that the project is situated between the 1960s’ making of capital Seoul and Seoul urban planning, and the way how the project achieved symbolism in capital Seoul. The project, one of the 1960s’ Major Government Buildings, led both plan of capital Seoul and transforming city Seoul. The 1960s’ Major Government Building Plan had identical drive with the 1950’s Major Government Building Plan, however the 1960s’ had additional layer: Seoul urban planning. After restoration of the Capital building, Sejongro the capital street was planned to the site arranging government offices. The Government Complex Seoul was set to be a modern building on a site with historical context according to the plan. Because of the site, the Government Complex Seoul was constructed in aware of other buildings that represented a competitive high-rise atmosphere in the late 1960s, including the Capital building nearby. PAE International’s plan was completed through a series of design modification, and it boasted a vertical aspect, unlike the horizontal-looking plan that was already won after the design competition. The Government Complex Seoul tried to acquire the symbolism in the central space of the capital Seoul and high-rised city Seoul. “The new construction method” was a requirement to achieve the height.