[DIALOGUE] Towards a Sustainable Architecture: 9 Solutions ② | Junglim ...

SPACE

May 2026 (No. 702)

The original appearance of the south façade​ of the Samil Building

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DIALOGUE

Lee Myungjin

CEO, Advanced Design Division, Junglim Architecture,

Ki Hyunchul

Design Part Leader of SU (Strategy Unit), Design Division, Junglim Architecture,

Park Jaewan

Leader of JDI (Junglim Design Innovation) BU (Business Unit), Design Division, Junglim Architecture,

Ahn Jeongtaek

Leader of BIG Tech BU, Advanced Design Division, Junglim Architecture,

Rhee Ho

Director of Mobility BU, Advanced Design Division, Junglim Architecture ×

Kim Jeoungeun

Editor-in-Chief,

SPACE

,

Bang Yukyung

Editor,

SPACE

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Adaptive Reuse: Samil Building, Jeonil Building 245​

SPACE

: In discussions of sustainability, regeneration and reuse are indispensable topics. Looking at recent trends in domestic and international architectural scenes, there is an increasing number of cases of adapting and reusing existing structures. The Samilro Building (currently Samil Building), a monumental office building by Kim Chung-up, and the Jeonil Building (currently Jeonil Building 245), which bears the scars of the Gwangju Democratization Movement, are works of architecture with overwhelming historical significance and symbolism. While seeking to transform these structures to meet the functions and uses demanded today, could you tell us what similarities and differences existed in your attitude toward these two projects?

Lee Myungjin (Lee)

: Both buildings share the commonality of being projects that rewrite the structure to meet present demands while respecting the time and meaning inherent in the existing architecture. At the core of these projects was the issue of how to enhance the historical relevance and sense of place embedded in the architecture to operate meaningfully again within the contemporary city. On the other hand, because the meaning and context of the two buildings differ, there was a clear difference in our approach. While the Samil Building raised questions about how to modernly inherit an architectural heritage, the Jeonil Building was closer to questioning how to preserve the city’s history and social memory within the space and share it with citizens.

Park Jaewan (Park)

: As is well known, ONE O ONE architects handled the initial design for the remodelling of the Samil Building, and we took on the role of technically implementing it. Our working attitude at the time can be summarised as ‘creative restoration’. It was not about exactly restoring past functions and forms, but elevating the value by actively reflecting the necessities of the present time. From this perspective, we preserved the curtain wall exterior while proceeding to improve the interior to suit a modern office space. The most noticeable major change was revealing the podium that met the ground level and creating a sunken space to widen the contact points connecting to the outside.

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Current appearance of the south façade of the Samil Building

Current appearance of the south façade of the Samil Building

SPACE

: Specifically in the Samil Building, around what values did you distinguish between what to preserve and what to change? How were they realised?​

Park

: When embarking on the project, we visited the Kim Chung-up Architecture Museum to collect related materials and interviewed participants from that time. The Samilro Building began construction in 1968 and was completed in 1970; at that time, Korea had absolutely no technology for steel-frame buildings. The architecture of Le Corbusier, Kim Chung-up’s mentor, lacked the formal language to resolve the high-rise office demanded by the c...

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Lee Myungjin

Lee Myungjin, CEO of Advanced Design Division, Junglim Architecture, has executed architectural projects across various sectors, including workplaces, research, commercial, healthcare, and data centres. He is committed to design that proactively addresses industrial and environmental issues based on future technologies and scientific processes, pursuing innovation to meet the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and global environmental changes.

Ki Hyunchul

Ki Hyunchul graduated from the Department of Architectural Engineering at Korea University and the École d’Architecture et de Paysage de Bordeaux (EAPBX) in France. After working at Bernard Bühler Architects, he joined Junglim Architecture in 2008. Currently serving as the Design Part Leader of SU (Strategy Unit), Design Division, he oversees the convergence of design and technology, as well as the advancement of the organisational design process.

Park Jaewan

Park Jaewan majored in Architectural Design at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville (ENSA-PB) in France and earned his French government-certified architect (D.P.L.G.) degree. He joined Junglim Architecture in 2007 and currently serves as the Leader of JDI (Junglim Design Innovation) BU (Business Unit), Design Division.

Ahn Jeongtaek

Ahn Jeongtaek graduated from the School of Architecture at The Catholic University of America and obtained his Master’s degree from the same institution. He began his professional career at Junglim Architecture, became a registered architect in Washington, D.C. in 2008, and is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Drawing upon his deep understanding of technology and the environment, as well as his extensive practical experience, he currently serves as the Leader of BIG Tech BU, Advanced Design Division.

Rhee Ho

Rhee Ho graduated from the Department of Architectural Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University and majored in Architectural Planning at the same institution. After joining Junglim Architecture in 1997, he served as Design Principal, 2018 – 2020) and is currently the Director of Mobility BU, Advanced Design Division, overseeing its architectural design operations.

FRAME

DIALOGUE

Junglim Architecture

Lee Myungjin

Ki Hyunchul

Park Jaewan

Ahn Jeongtaek

Rhee Ho

R&D

Eco-friendly Integrated Design Process

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