This research examines symbolic meanings of architectural style of Japanese ruling era of Korea through analysis of Expo buildings. Expo buidings of Joseon Product Evaluation Expo(1915), Joseon Expo(1929), and Joseon Grand Expo(1940) are chosen as subjects of this research. Expos held in Korea since 1945 were creatures of colonial reign and their objectives are advertising the advancement of Japan. New and latest architectural styles of Western countries were used as a symbol of advancement in non-western countries. Renaissance style and Secession style in Joseon Product Evaluation Expo and Modernism style in Joseon Expo were introduced as architectural styles that symbolize advancement. On the contrary, the traditional architectural style of Joseon Dynasty was distorted as symbol of backwardness. Latest Western Architectural Styles were used elaborately and Intentionally to symbolize advancement and industrialization by Japanese ruling power and companies. Specially, Modernism style operating as 'symbol of advancement' is characteristic of non-western society in attempt to proceed Modernization through Westernization. Also, it can be suggested that architectures in Modernism style are used in ways to symbolize the advancement of the colonial reign authorities within the colonial society.

In the time of the rule of Japanese imperialism, Japanese style official residence played major role at the implantation of modern dwellings into Korea and its influences on Korean modern dwellings are distinguishable. This study focuses on the Japanese style official residence implanted into Korea before 1910. Before 1910 Japanese civilians in Korea builded just a traditional Japanese dwellings at the Japanese settlement in the ports opened. But Japanese engineers engaged in governmental organization of construction in the Old-Korean Empire builded a central corridor type Japanese dwellings as official residence. The central corridor type Japanese dwelling was an urban dwelling compromised between Japanese style and western style and distinguished by an outer-court type plan, Japanese entrance hall, central corridor and western style reception room. It is certified that the central corridor type Japanese dwelling was implanted into Korea before 1910 and this was the first time an urban dwelling to be implanted and spread through the whole Korea. The central corridor type Japanese dwelling implanted into Korea took in On-Dol and transformed to Korea-Japanese eclectic style. The central corridor type Japanese dwellings implanted into Korea in the time of the rule of Japanese imperialism makes function as a precedent of a modern urban dwelling to Korean and makes Korean dwellings transform from the rural inner court type into the urban outer court type.