| Title |
Construction of Okryugwan and Its Architectural Legacy |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2025.41.6.165 |
| Keywords |
North Korea; Tradition; Okryugwan; Modern Choson-style Architecture; Socialist Realism; Paljak Roof |
| Abstract |
This study examines the construction of Okryugwan and its architectural legacy. Completed in 1960, Okryugwan is one of North Korea’s
best-known traditional Korean restaurants. It reinterprets the traditional wooden-building form with Paljak roofs, lending a monumental quality
to the design. Okryugwan’s key features include the symmetrical central section of the front facade, the dynamic arrangement of multiple
Paljak roofs over connected structures, relatively low two-story height, and the integration of terraces and balustrades linking the interior with
the surrounding waterfront. These features shaped later expansions of the building as well as the design of many other traditional restaurants.
While not the first of its kind, Okryugwan’s state-sponsored status made it an important reference point for the design of subsequent
traditional restaurants. Previous studies on modern Choson-style architecture have mainly focused on grand, monumental structures. This study,
by contrast, reveals how its features were widely applied to more modest, small-scale architecture. In particular, it highlights traditional
restaurant design as a key area for the application of modern Choson-style architecture. |