For the proper preservation and utilisation of Regional Modern Heritage Buildings, it is necessary to study the history of local modern architecture based on a broad understanding of the region and also to architectural history. The aim of this study is expand the awareness and multi-faceted interpretation of modern architecture in Kwangju in the 1940’s to 1950’s, by exploring the origin of regional modern architecture from new perspectives. As a part of the discussions of the perspectives, this study will be therefore explained with the regional correlations between the architect Kim Han-seop’s works and activity, influential politicians, strong enthusiasm of education, architectural characteristics of the main building of Chosun University, architecture schools and association in Kwangju. Then, it will be finalised that Kim Han-seop and the main building of Chosun University are directly and indirectly correlated and affected each other strongly.

As the educational function of Confucian school in the late Chosun dynasty had been declined, the other educational institution called YANGSAJAE was established. The founders of the institution was either local authorities or local Confucianists. Otherwise the institution was established by the cooperation of both local authorities and local Confucianists. YANGSAJAE began to be established from the 16th century. Most of them was founded in 1700s. In 1800s, it was not so difficult to see YANGSAJAE in many towns in Young nam and Honam provinces. The institution was located in separate places at the early stage of foundation. But since the middle of 1700s, the institution was located in or near the Confucian school. As a consequence, this influenced the location of Confucian schools in the late Chosun dynasty. In Youngnam province, the institution was mainly located near the Confucian school or in a separate place. On the contrary, most of the institution were constructed within Confucian school in Honam province. There were two types of the flat composition: one is based on hall and the other is based on room. The hall type, which had a hall in the middle and rooms in both sides, was general. The hall type usually had a size of 4-kan in width and 1.5-kan in length. The half-hipped roof was the general type and intimately related to the roof of Myung-Ryun Dang of local Confucian School.

The urban form of Korean cities significantly changed in the late Chosun dynasty. The influence of commercial development was the main cause of these changes. Commerce became a important function of existing cities, and the new type of commercial towns emerged at the important spots of traffic routes. In both cases streets became dominant element of urban form. Mainly commercial buildings aggregated along the streets, and to obtain higher land use intensity shape of lots became narrow and deep. Koyang(高陽) shows the most significant example of this new type of lot and lot pattern. Approximately 30 narrow and deep type of lots lined on each side of street forming about 390 meters long linear commercial town. Similar examples were found at the outside of south gate of Suwon(水原), Nuwon(樓院), and Pangyo(板橋).