Comments on: Seoul Station and its Environs http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/ Korea... in Blog Format Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:51:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115903 SomeguyinKorea Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:35:50 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115903 "OK, the rationale behind demolishing the Government-General building was probably dumb..." Only if it is the truth. I'd be willing to bet that the decision was motivated by politics. Remember, Kim Young-sam got elected because he merged his Peaceful Democracy Party with Roh Tae-woo's Democratic Justice Party. I'd say he needed to do something dramatic to ensure that people would continue trusting him. “OK, the rationale behind demolishing the Government-General building was probably dumb…”

Only if it is the truth. I’d be willing to bet that the decision was motivated by politics. Remember, Kim Young-sam got elected because he merged his Peaceful Democracy Party with Roh Tae-woo’s Democratic Justice Party. I’d say he needed to do something dramatic to ensure that people would continue trusting him.

]]> By: dogbertt http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115732 dogbertt Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:16:08 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115732 Just teasing....I recall your excellent travelogue postings on both. I'd love to see your pictures of Tokyo if you do go. Just teasing….I recall your excellent travelogue postings on both.

I’d love to see your pictures of Tokyo if you do go.

]]> By: Robert Koehler http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115731 Robert Koehler Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:15:20 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115731 Well, I've been to Kyoto and Nara. Loved Kyoto, in fact. Well, I’ve been to Kyoto and Nara. Loved Kyoto, in fact.

]]> By: dogbertt http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115724 dogbertt Tue, 30 Oct 2007 01:06:54 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115724 <blockquote>I haven’t been to Tokyo</blockquote> That's taking the whole "gone native" thing a bit too far, doncha think?

I haven’t been to Tokyo

That’s taking the whole “gone native” thing a bit too far, doncha think?

]]> By: Robert Koehler http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115712 Robert Koehler Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:10:30 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115712 The "City Hall Annex" (actually, Seoul Metropolitan Council, and before that the National Assembly, and before that the National Theater) is a very modern design. Or at least it was when it was built. <blockquote>God forbid that Kim Young-sam would have have inconvenienced by the demolition of Chongwadae instead of the Japanese General-Government Building in his symbolic attack on Colonial Japan.</blockquote> OK, the rationale behind demolishing the Government-General building was probably dumb, and had the matter been handled today, it would have been done with much more prudence (the building probably would have been relocated elsewhere). That being said, as much as I love early modern architecture, something like the restoration of the Gyeongbokgung <i>has</i> to take precedence. I seriously doubt all the restoration work being done (or that will be done) in the Gwanghwamun area would be possible with the old Government-General building standing in the way. The “City Hall Annex” (actually, Seoul Metropolitan Council, and before that the National Assembly, and before that the National Theater) is a very modern design. Or at least it was when it was built.

God forbid that Kim Young-sam would have have inconvenienced by the demolition of Chongwadae instead of the Japanese General-Government Building in his symbolic attack on Colonial Japan.

OK, the rationale behind demolishing the Government-General building was probably dumb, and had the matter been handled today, it would have been done with much more prudence (the building probably would have been relocated elsewhere). That being said, as much as I love early modern architecture, something like the restoration of the Gyeongbokgung has to take precedence. I seriously doubt all the restoration work being done (or that will be done) in the Gwanghwamun area would be possible with the old Government-General building standing in the way.

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115700 SomeguyinKorea Mon, 29 Oct 2007 23:03:50 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115700 God forbid that Kim Young-sam would have have inconvenienced by the demolition of Chongwadae instead of the Japanese General-Government Building in his symbolic attack on Colonial Japan. God forbid that Kim Young-sam would have have inconvenienced by the demolition of Chongwadae instead of the Japanese General-Government Building in his symbolic attack on Colonial Japan.

]]> By: sewing http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115689 sewing Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:03:59 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115689 ...Or the City Hall itself, for that matter? …Or the City Hall itself, for that matter?

]]> By: sewing http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115688 sewing Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:03:38 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115688 Robert: I hear ya on the early modernist stuff, but how about the Midopa department store, or the building that serves as that City Hall annex across Taepyeongno from City Hall (you know, the one with the tower)? Robert: I hear ya on the early modernist stuff, but how about the Midopa department store, or the building that serves as that City Hall annex across Taepyeongno from City Hall (you know, the one with the tower)?

]]> By: sewing http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115686 sewing Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:02:41 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115686 The old station's interior appointments are fitting, considering that prior to WWII, it was possible to travel by train from Seoul all the way to Europe. Bulgasari: Apparently it's in Uiwang: see <a href="http://www.tourguide.co.kr/local/local_detail.htm?pCode=MEUSMEUS0051" rel="nofollow">here</a> or <a href="http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/ya/ms/yams_mv0.jsp?i_seqno=110&i_type=0&i_areacode=0&i_sigun=0" rel="nofollow">here</a>. The old station’s interior appointments are fitting, considering that prior to WWII, it was possible to travel by train from Seoul all the way to Europe.

Bulgasari:

Apparently it’s in Uiwang: see here or here.

]]> By: bulgasari http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115685 bulgasari Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:38:00 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/29/seoul-station-and-its-environs/#comment-115685 Nice photos... Any idea where the train museum has gone? A student mentioned he'd gone there on the weekend, but assuming it was still at Seoul station I didn't ask him where it was. When i went there in 2002 i saw a ticket from circa 1900 with hanja and english written on it, and was amused that i knew a number of the stations (still on line one) like sosa (which has moved) and bupyeong - though they had rather different romanization... I can't help but think of this story from the war that features the station: http://www.koreanchildren.org/docs/MIS-003.htm Nice photos…

Any idea where the train museum has gone? A student mentioned he’d gone there on the weekend, but assuming it was still at Seoul station I didn’t ask him where it was.

When i went there in 2002 i saw a ticket from circa 1900 with hanja and english written on it, and was amused that i knew a number of the stations (still on line one) like sosa (which has moved) and bupyeong - though they had rather different romanization…

I can’t help but think of this story from the war that features the station:
http://www.koreanchildren.org/docs/MIS-003.htm

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