JinHa Park about this project:

I was once an architect and am now an architectural photographer. I grew up observing and learning from the work of architect Kim Swoo Geun, and I've always believed that only by doing a good job of archiving can I honor future generations. This is why I began working with the Kim Swoo Geun Cultural Foundation. I simultaneously pursue general archiving and personal projects.My personal work continues under the name "Manual of Cityscape."

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Kyungdong Church: History, Overview, and Kim Swoo Geun’s Architectural Philosophy

Kyungdong Church, located in Jangchung-dong, central Seoul, is a prominent Protestant church known as one of the most significant works by renowned Korean architect Kim Swoo Geun. Completed in 1980, the building is widely regarded as a landmark of modern Korean architecture, embodying both spiritual depth and architectural innovation.

The church was originally founded in 1945, shortly after Korea’s liberation, and has maintained a reputation for democratic values and community-oriented worship. Rather than simply creating a religious facility, Kim sought to build a space that invites reflection and fosters a sense of sacred stillness.

Kim Swoo Geun believed that architecture was not merely about creating structures, but about shaping spaces that hold thought and meaning. In Kyungdong Church, this philosophy is realised through stark concrete forms, asymmetrical composition, and the dramatic use of natural light. In place of a traditional steeple, a vertical light shaft draws the eye upward, subtly connecting the earthly with the divine. The play of light and shadow, along with the quiet, austere atmosphere, evokes the Korean aesthetic of yeobaek—the beauty of empty space.

Far more than just a place of worship, Kyungdong Church continues to stand as a powerful example of how architecture can express cultural identity, spirituality, and timeless simplicity.

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Kimswoogeun Foundation : https://www.instagram.com/kimswoogeun.archive  
Selmo Kim :  https://www.instagram.com/selmo_kim

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