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How did Japanese colonial rule influence the design of public buildings in Korea?

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Pagoda of Jeongrimsa Temple in Buyeo, South Korea — Korean architecture Five-story stone pagoda of Jeongrimsa Temple, first half of the 7th century, Baekje period; in Buyeo, South Korea. Height 8.33 meters (27.3 feet).

During the period of Japanese colonial rule in Korea (1910–1945), the design of public buildings was significantly influenced by the Japanese colonial administration's preference for Western architectural styles.1

Rather than utilizing traditional Korean forms, colonial authorities oversaw the construction of most public buildings using European-inspired designs. A prominent example of this architectural approach is the Chosŏn Governor-General’s Hall, which was completed in 1926. This shift toward Western-style construction reflected broader trends of the era, as Japanese architects—who had rapidly assimilated Western structural technologies and forms—applied these methods to their colonial projects in Korea.12

This architectural imposition was part of a wider colonial policy that sought to reorganize Korean society to serve Japanese interests, often by suppressing local culture and promoting assimilation. While this period introduced new materials and Western aesthetics to the Korean landscape, it also marked a departure from the traditional architectural practices that had defined the preceding Chosŏn period.314