The Main Gate centers the Main Hall on the KU campus. Beside the Main Hall, the Central Library (Graduate School) and College of Liberal Art are positioned as left and right wings. The three buildings are the representative edifices of KU, and the most beloved. The father of the three buildings, Park Dong Jin, was among the first generation of Koreans to employ western styles of architecture in Korea. Park first designed the Main Hall in 1933, then supervised the construction of the Central Library (Graduate School) and College of Liberal Arts in 1937 and 1955 respectively.

 

Park used granite to embellish the appearance of buildings. “He proposed using granite for the building to Kim Sung Soo, the first President of KU. Before Park, Koreans usually employed wood to build houses, which made it less sanitary and solid,” said Shin Min Kyung, the great-granddaughter of Park. Rock, in addition, represents KU students’ spirit of resistance since rock is both strong and durable. Starting from the Main Hall, many KU classical buildings were constructed like a granite tower, including LG-POSCO Business Hall, and Centennial Memorial SAMSUNG Hall.

 

KU has two historical sites verified by the Cultural Heritage Administration. The Main Hall and the Central Library (Graduate School) were registered as number 285 and 286 historical sites respectively. The Main Hall's classical appearance is the primary reason why students call KU the “Kogwarts” which is a compound word of Hogwarts and KU. The hope for KU students' arcademic achievement can be found in the shape of the Chinese character 學 (Hak) that means to learn. The Main Hall implemented a majestic feature of Tudor and Gothic style, usually associated with the Catholic church. Despite the bulkiness, its sophisticated details are clearly visible.

 

At the front gate, the tiger, which is the symbol of both KU and Korea is carved. A Mugunghwa, Korea's national flower, decorates the rear gate. “The construction of the Main Hall was completed during the Japanese colonial era. When a Japanese examiner interrogated Park about why he carved the flower, he lied that it was a cherry blossom to protect the ectype,” recalled Park Mi Ran, the granddaughter of Park.

 

“Park used Duke University's Main Library as a pattern and designed the Central Library (Graduate School). Park liked the style of Duke,” said Park Hae Kang, the youngest daughter of the architect. Park also used the Gothic style in the tower on the fifth floor where an elaborate window is placed on the epic. She added that “My father was the man who truly loved KU. Because of his love toward both KU and his artworks, he lived close to KU almost rest of his life.” His enthusiasm toward KU produced masterpieces that students can study and admire.

 

After 2010, newly built buildings, the Media Hall and the Hyundai Motor Business Hall were constructed in the far West and far East parts of the Liberal Arts and Humanities Campus. Unlike the other buildings on the campus, they took the latest modern designs. The Media Hall, which is a 12 story building, is the tallest on the campus. Some students criticized it, claiming that it harmed the overall balance, but it soon became known as the icing of the campus. Hyundai Motor Business Hall has a nickname, “Glass Castle,” and was built in the eclecticism of the granite tower style with glass architecture. The center of the building is vertically vacant, which represents the post modernistic part of the design.

 

The Science and Engineering Campus usually takes postmodern styles. The oldest building on the campus is the College of Engineering #2, which was built in 1964 and was designed by Park. The Curtain-wall style was applied to the building, which was the cutting-edged modern style back in the 1960s. Although there have been many modifications to the building, students can find traces of the original style on the side of it. It surrounds the Aegineung with the Science Library, standing in the center of the campus.

 

The buildings of the Science and Engineering Campus usually boast their modernity by using shiny, rhythmical pattern of windows. When visitors first enter the campus, they can enjoy the nicely presented appearance of the Life Science and Biotechnology East and West Buildings. In the middle part of the East building, walls are all comprised of greenish windows. Hana Square also used whole glass walls that give the impression of being clear and modern. The newbie of the campus, Hana Science Hall and Future Institute of Engineering, which used futuristic images of glass windows enhance the modernity as well.