Korea University’s (KU) Graduate School building was nominated as one of the most “Beautiful Architecture” by citizens in Seoul. Seoul Metropolitan Government held a four-week-long Beautiful Architecture Contest from August 12 to September 10. Citizens living in Seoul could freely submit photographs of buildings that they thought was beautiful during the contest period. A total of 83 buildings were nominated in the contest, KU Graduate School building being one of them.

 

The Graduate School building at KU is a five-story building, completed in 1937. The construction of the building started on March, 1935 in order to commemorate the 30th anniversary of KU. The fund for the construction project came from donations from both domestic and foreign sources. It is said the late founder of the Hyundai Group; Chung Ju-yung worked as a construction worker for this building. The Graduate School building, along with the Main Hall was designed by an architect named Park Dong Jin in Gothic Style. The architect said he used the library at Duke University, as a motive for the buildings.

The building was used as a Central Library until the 70th anniversary of KU. After the construction of the new Main Library, it now contains reading rooms, computer rooms, lounge for graduate students and offices for professors. Along with the Main Hall it has been designated as a historical site and is protected by law.