The brick building with stone details beside the park is not a newly built retro-style cultural center. Constructed in the 1930s as the headquarters of Keijo Imperial University, it became Seoul National University's main building after liberation. Following the Gwanak move and several later uses, it now operates as the Artists House.
Colonial and national universities overlap in one building Keijo Imperial University was created under Japanese colonial rule as part of Japan's imperial university system. After 1945, some of its facilities became a physical foundation for Seoul National University. Presenting the building only as romantic campus heritage erases the institutional transition and the politics of colonial education.
Look beyond the Romanesque-style façade to changing uses Arches, brickwork, and a central entrance project the authority of an educational institution. Once students and administrators departed, artistic records, meetings, and exchange brought different users inside. Architectural preservation does not require one function to remain forever.
Check current programs before attempting to enter Unlike the park, the Artists House does not keep every room continuously open. Events, rentals, and archive access may have different conditions. Distinguish exterior viewing from participation in an indoor program and consult official information before visiting.
