Brutalist Korea: Paul Tulett's Photographic Tour of Post-War Architecture
Paul Tulett's new book 'Brutalist Korea' presents 100 photographs of South Korean architecture, arguing that Brutalism there was a 'method' for post-war healing and rebuilding, not a manifesto. The book includes structures from Zaha Hadid's 2014 Dongdaemun Design Plaza to the 14th-century Sungnyemun gate, which Tulett reinterprets as proto-Brutalist. Published by Prestel at £40, the work is reviewed in the Summer 2026 issue of ArtReview Asia.
Key facts
- Paul Tulett authored 'Brutalist Korea: A Photographic Tour of Post-War Korean Architecture'.
- The book features 100 photographs of South Korean brutalist and nu-brutalist structures.
- Tulett previously wrote 'Brutalist Japan'.
- The term 'Brutalism' was coined in 1950s Britain.
- Tulett describes Brutalism in Korea as a 'method' for healing after wars.
- The book includes Zaha Hadid's Dongdaemun Design Plaza (2014) and Sungnyemun gate (14th century).
- Sungnyemun restoration cost ₩25 billion, the most expensive single-building restoration in South Korean history.
- Published by Prestel, hardcover, £40.
- Review appears in ArtReview Asia Summer 2026 issue.
Entities
Artists
- Paul Tulett
- Zaha Hadid
- Tadao Ando
- Kim Chung-up
- Kim Swoo-geun
- Kwak Jae-hwan
- Moon Hoon
- Kim Chanjoon
- Kwak Hee-soo
- Seung H-Sang
- Yerin Kang
Institutions
- Prestel
- ArtReview Asia
- Dongdaemun Design Plaza
- Jeju Glass House
- Asia Publishing Culture and Information Centre
- Eunpyeong Library
- Arario
- Haeundae Beach
- Jeju Island
- Miradouro Sodae
- Seoul Olympic Stadium
- Dezeen
- Zaha Hadid Architects
- Himma Studio
- UnSangDong Architects
- The System Lab
- Society of Architecture
Locations
- South Korea
- Seoul
- Jeju Island
- Haeundae Beach
- Nippon
- Britain
- Europe
- East Asia
- Paju Book City
- Daegu
- Sayuwon
- Paju
- Hannam-daero
- Bukhansan