Korean Airlines will build a multipurpose cultural venue in the former site of a residential building for the U.S. Embassy near Gyeongbok Palace in downtown Seoul.
Hanjin Group said this on August 18 that it would establish the cultural fusion center in Songhyun-dong in a site owned by itself.
The center will rival Tokyo's Roppongi Hills and Shanghai's Xintiandi in terms of entertainment and eatery varieties. In building the center, Hanjin Group will combine the traditional architectural design with high-tech motifs so that the whole building can mesh perfectly with the surroundings.
Instead of building a high rise, the group will put up a five-story structure offering spaces for cultural events open to everyone. The first-stage project will be completed by 2017. A Korean Air official said, "Given it is almost impossible to build a hotel in the premises due to the strict zoning regulation, we decided to build a cultural fusion center on the site. We will try to make the building a national tourism landmark and cultural epicenter for the city dwellers."
