63 Building

The63 Building(Korean:63빌딩;RR:Yuksam Building), officially called63 SQUARE(formerlyHanwha 63 City), is askyscraperon the island ofYeouido,overlooking theHan RiverinSeoul,South Korea. At 249.6 m (819 ft) high, it was the tallest building outside North America when it was opened on July 27, 1985, and it is the second-tallest gold-clad building in the world afterGrand LisboainMacau.It stood as South Korea's tallest building until theHyperion Towersurpassed it in 2003, but remained the country's tallest commercial building until theNortheast Asia Trade Towerwas topped-out in 2009.

63 Building
General information
Location	Yeoui Island,Yeongdeungpo District,Seoul South Korea
Coordinates	37°31′11″N126°56′24″E
Opened	July 27, 1985
Owner	Hanwha Group (Hanwha 63 City Corp.)
Height
Antenna spire	274 m (899 ft)
Roof	249.6 m (819 ft)
Top floor	240 m (790 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	63 (3 underground)
Floor area	166,207 m (545,299 ft)
Lifts/elevators	37, byHitachi/GoldStar(modernized byMitsubishi Electric)
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Harry D. Som and Helen W. Som, Som and Associates, ChunMyeong Park
Website
http:// 63realty.co.kr/

The 63 Building was built as a landmark for the1988 Summer Olympics.63is something of a misnomer since only 60 floors are above ground level. Floors 61–63 are restricted areas. The skyscraper is the headquarters ofKorea Life Insurance,Industrial Bank of Korea Securities,and other major financial companies.

The design of the structure is based on the Hanja character for person or human being ( người orin) in a subtle reference by the designers to the business of Daehan Life, the insurance company that constructed the building.

History

Construction

The 63 Building's construction broke ground in February 1980, at the height of South Korea's economic boom. It was built at a cost of 180 billionwon,and construction was completed in May 1985. It was originally named the DLI 63 building, for Daehan Life Insurance.In 2000,Hanwha Grouprenamed the building 63 City and it became part of the group in 2002.

63 Building and Present

It was temporarily opened on July 5, 1985, and the completion ceremony was fully opened on July 27, the same year, and was held on September 30. It was the tallest building in the world when excludingNorth America,beating theSunshine 60building inTokyo,Japanat the time of its completion, before theOUB centrewas built inSingaporein 1987 and theBank of China TowerinHong Kongin 1990. During the 1988Seoul Olympics,the torch was lit at the Bonghwadae in front of the 63 Building, and it became famous around the world. Originally, it was the headquarters of Korea Life Insurance of Shindonga Group, but it was dismantled in 1997 due to theIMF,and the 63 Building was moved toHanwha Group.TheSeoul International Fireworks Festivalbegan in 2000 and was canceled in 2001 in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, and the event dates were adjusted in consideration of the2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.It has been designated as an official World Cup cultural event. The 63 Building was also owned by Hanwha Group when Korea Life Insurance (currently Hanwha Life Insurance) was acquired and incorporated into Hanwha Group in September.

63 Building's new refurbishment was carried out in three stages.A total of 13,944 exterior wall glass sheets were completely replaced during the second phase of construction, especially for safety purpose.The first phase of construction began in February 2005 and was completed in July 2009, while the second phase began construction in March 2010. In 2012, the evacuation safety zone was set up on the 21st and 38th floors of the 63 Building, and was renovated in April 2013. The second phase was completed in May 2013, the third phase began construction in July 2011, and the second phase was completed on January 12, 2014, and the carpet tile construction was carried out on January 18, the same year. In May 2015, the 63 Building celebrated its 30th anniversary with a special 30% discount event to mark the 30th anniversary of the opening of the 63 Restaurant.In July 2016, the third phase of construction was completed.

Facilities

The 60th floor houses the world's highestart galleryand anobservation deckknown as the 63 Golden Tower, that allows visitors to see as far asIncheonon clear days. The 59th floor features international restaurants calledWalking in the Cloud,while the 58th floor houses family restaurants calledTouch the Sky.Observation elevators equipped with windows enable passengers to view the city on their way to/from the observation deck. In the evening, some elevators are available exclusively for couples. These are known as Love Elevators which give guests a one-minute ride. The lower floors house an indoor shopping mall with approximately 90 stores, anIMAXtheater, and a largeaquarium.Aconvention centerandbanquet hallare also housed within the building.

Ticket Prices for Visitors

Visiting facilities	over 19 years of age	13 to 18 years of age	36 months and over 12 years old.
63art	₩13,000	₩12,000	₩11,000
aqua planet 63	₩25,000	₩23,000	₩21,000

In popular culture

The 63 Building is featured in the 2000computer gameSimCity 3000Unlimitedand is featured on its cover. In the game, it can be built as a landmark titled the 'Korea Life Building'. It also appeared in a sequel game,SimCity 4,as a DLC landmark building.

The 63 Building is featured in the 2012disaster filmThe Tower,of which the building was used as director Kim Ji-hoon's inspiration to create the fictional 120-story twin tower Tower Sky complex.

Gallery

• 
  63 Building photographed in May 2023.
• 
  Topped-out63 Building photographed in June 1984.
• 
• 
  63 building was photographed in 2007.
• 
  At sunrise, the 63 Building begins to glow.
• 
  For twenty minutes at sunrise, the eastern side of the building is blindingly bright.

See also

• List of skyscrapers
• Korean architecture
• Hyperion Tower
• List of tallest buildings in Seoul
• List of tallest buildings in South Korea

External links

• Official English-language website
• 63City: Seoul Convention Bureau