Return to Base

Welcome, scholars, to the southern hemisphere of the capital: Gangnam and the Songpa district. If Jongno represents the deep, dynastic roots of Korea, this territory is the physical manifestation of the 'Miracle on the Han…

We commence our study at the edge of Seokchon Lake. To understand this body of water, one must understand the aggressive terraforming that defined the development of southern Seoul. …

Looming ominously over Seokchon Lake is the Lotte World Tower. Standing at an incomprehensible 555 meters (1,820 feet) with 123 floors, it is the tallest building in South Korea and among the tallest on the planet. …

We now transit westward, descending into the subterranean labyrinth of the COEX Mall to examine a fascinating piece of contemporary cultural architecture: the Starfield Library. COEX is an immense, windowless complex of commerce…

Emerging from the subterranean depths, we confront the raw, unadulterated reality of Gangnam Boulevard. This immense, multi-lane artery is the central nervous system of the district. …

Fleeing the intense pressure of the commercial grid, we move north to the ultimate geographical boundary of the district: the Han River (Hangang) and its adjacent parks. The Han River is not merely a body of water; it is a…

Our analytical journey concludes at the edge of the river, focusing our attention on the Banpo Bridge. By day, it is a brutalist, two-tiered concrete structure, an ugly but vital artery for vehicular traffic. …

As the aquatic curtain of the Banpo Bridge falls and our exploration of the Gangnam and Han River axis concludes, we must attempt to process the sheer velocity of this environment. To understand southern Seoul is to understand a…