Difficult heritage of colonial architecture

Mixed memories: Archival photo from the Busan Museum of the former Japanese General Government building located in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace in central Seoul. — The Korea Herald/ANN

PARK Ga-hee, 31-year-old resident of a neighbourhood next to Gyeongbokgung Palace in central Seoul, passes by the Bank of Korea Money Museum on her way to and from work. The building, put up in 1912, was the headquarters of the Bank of Joseon during the Japanese colonial era.

“I am aware that the building was used to colonise Korea. It is not a pleasant thing to see the building,” Park says.