This study aims to examine how the Gyeongseong Hokuk Shrine established the natural environment in Yongsan during the Japanese colonial period, focusing on the relationship between Japan and Chosen Hokuk Shrines. In the colonies, the establishment of shrines strongly tended to symbolize Imperial Japan and visually represent its ruling logic. The Gyeongseong Hokuk Shrine holds historical significance as a place to commemorate soldiers who died for the Emperor and as a tool of colonial rule, but further discussion is needed on how it was organized within the Yongsan. This study focuses on Hokuk Shrine planning under which the Shrine Bureau of Home Ministry constructed similar shrines across Japan by the Ministry of Home Affairs Ordinance No. 12 of 1939. As a result, this study examines the environment and architectural styles of Hokuk Shrines through examples from Japan and uses this analysis to explore the characteristics of Gyeongseong Hokuk Shrine and its relationship with the Yongsan. The significance of this research lies in highlighting the historical urban significance of Yongsan during the modern period.

This research aims to investigate Park Kilyong’s architectural theory and critique of Gyeongseong (Seoul) buildings, expressed in his ‘Overview of Modern Buildings in Gyeongseong’ and ‘Critique of Gyeongseong Buildings’ (Samcheolli, Sept. and Oct. 1935); and ‘Architectural Form of the 100% Function’ and ‘The Modern and Architecture (1)-(4)’ (Dong-A Daily, 28 Jul. to 1 Aug. 1936). As a result, it is confirmed that Park had the functionalist theory of modern architecture, which suggests that Korean architects of the Japanese colonial period were accommodating the contemporary trend of world architecture. However, Park shows his fundamental limitations in the fact that the main content of his articles was a verbatim translation of two Japanese references (Kurata, 1927; Ishihara, 1929) without proper indications. Despite the limitations, his texts are still meaningful since he formed his own architectural theory on the basis of what he translated; and indeed his critique of Gyeongseong buildings, however simple, was based on the theory. This research makes a critical analysis of Park’s functionalist theory from both the 1930s’ and present points of view and compares his commentaries on Gyeongseong architecture with those by Ko Yu-seop (1932) and Hong Yunsick (1937), illustrating how Korea perceived architecture and modernism in 1930s.