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'{{short description|Skyscraper in South Korea}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox skyscraper | building_name = 63 building | image = 63 Building 2019.jpg | image_size = 280px | caption = | location = [[Yeouido|Yeoui Island]], [[Yeongdeungpo District]], [[Seoul]]<br/>[[South Korea]] | coordinates = {{coord|37|31|11|N|126|56|24|E|region:KR|display=inline,title}} | roof = {{cvt|249|m|ft}}<ref>http://skyscrapercenter.com/seoul/kli-63-building/891/ {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407133148/http://skyscrapercenter.com/seoul/kli-63-building/891/ |date=April 7, 2014 }} Entry for the KLI 63 Building on ''The Skyscraper Center'' (database).</ref> | top_floor = {{cvt|240|m|ft}} | antenna_spire = {{cvt|274|m|ft}} | floor_count = 63 (3 underground) | floor_area = {{cvt|166,207|m}}<ref>{{cite web |title=KLI 63 Building |url=http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/kli-63-building/891 |website=Skyscraper Center |publisher=CTBUH|access-date=14 December 2017}}</ref> | elevator_count = 37 | opened = July 27, 1985 | architect = Harry D. Som and Helen W. Som, Som and Associates, ChunMyeong Park | website = http://www.63realty.co.kr/ | owner = [[Hanwha Group]]<br>(''Hanwha 63 City Corp.'') }} The '''63 Building''' ({{lang-ko|63빌딩}}), officially called '''63 SQUARE'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.63art.co.kr/home/63ART/eng/util/square.do |title=63스퀘어 |website=www.63art.co.kr |language=ko|access-date=2017-06-01}}</ref> (formerly '''Hanwha 63 City'''), is a [[skyscraper]] on [[Yeouido]] island, overlooking the [[Han River (Korea)|Han River]] in [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]. It was designed by Harry D Som and Helen W Som, principals of Som and Associates of San Francisco. (The building has been falsely attributed to the SOM design firm, which is inaccurate.)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201107262143125&code=100100 |title=Yesterday's Today 1985 63 Building Completion |date=July 26, 2011 |publisher=The Kyunghyang Shinmun |access-date=March 25, 2012}}</ref> At 249 meters (817&nbsp;ft) high, it was the tallest building outside North America when it opened on July 27, 1985, and remains the tallest gold-clad structure in the world. It stood as [[South Korea]]'s tallest building until the [[Hyperion Tower]] surpassed it in 2003, but remained the country's tallest commercial building until the [[Northeast Asia Trade Tower]] was topped-out in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mok-dong Hyperion Towers, Seoul |url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=4301 |publisher=SkyscraperPage.com |access-date=March 10, 2009}}</ref> [[Lotte World Tower]] in 2017 became Korea's tallest skyscraper. The 63 Building was built as a landmark for the [[1988 Summer Olympics]]. ''63'' is something of a misnomer since only 60 floors are above ground level. Floors 61-63 are restricted areas. The skyscraper is the headquarters of [[Hanwha Daehan Life Insurance|Korea Life Insurance]], [[Industrial Bank of Korea|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 (人 or ''in'') 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 billion [[south Korean won|won]], and construction was completed in May 1985. It was originally named the DLI 63 building, for Daehan Life Insurance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=1610 |title=DLI 63 Building, Seoul - SkyscraperPage.com |website=skyscraperpage.com}}</ref> In 2000, [[Hanhwa|Hanwha Group]] renamed the building 63 City and it became part of the group in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://100.naver.com/100.nhn?docid=46048 |title=63빌딩}}</ref> === 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 excluding [[North America]], beating the [[Sunshine 60]] building in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]] at the time of its completion, before the [[One Raffles Place|OUB centre]] was built in [[Singapore]] in 1987 and the [[Bank of China Tower (Hong Kong)|Bank of China Tower]] in [[Hong Kong]] in 1990. During the 1988 [[Seoul Olympic Stadium|Seoul 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 the [[IMF]], and the 63 Building was moved to [[Hanwha Group]]. The [[Seoul International Fireworks Festival]] began 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 the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 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.{{when|date=March 2021}} The total land area is 21,430 square meters (6,483 pyeong) and 166,097 square meters (50,305 pyeong). 63 Building's new refurbishment was carried out in three stages.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} A total of 13,944 exterior wall glass sheets were completely replaced during the second phase of construction, especially for safety purpose.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} 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.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} In July 2016, the third phase of construction was completed. ==Facilities== The 60th floor houses the world's highest [[art gallery]] and an [[observation deck]] known as the 63 Golden Tower, that allows visitors to see as far as [[Incheon]] on clear days. The 59th floor features international restaurants called ''Walking in the Cloud'', while the 58th floor houses family restaurants called ''Touch 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, an [[IMAX]] theater, and a large [[aquarium]]. A [[convention center]] and [[banquet hall]] are also housed within the building. == Utilization charge == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Visiting facilities !over 19 years of age !13 to 18 years of age !36 months and over 12 years old. |- |63art |₩13000 |₩12000 |₩11000 |- |aqua planet 63 |₩25000 |₩23000 |₩21000 |} ==In popular culture== The 63 Building is featured in the 2000 [[computer game]] ''[[SimCity 3000]] Unlimited'' and 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. ==Gallery== <gallery perrow="4"> File:Seoul Building63.jpg File:Korea-Hi.Seoul.Festival-Hanbok-Parade-01.jpg|63 building was photographed in 2007. File:63buildingdawn.jpg|At sunrise, the 63 Building begins to glow. File:63buildingdawn2.jpg|For twenty minutes at sunrise, the eastern side of the building is blindingly bright. </gallery> ==See also== {{Portal|South Korea}} *[[List of skyscrapers]] *[[Korean architecture]] *[[Hyperion Tower]] *[[List of tallest buildings in Seoul]] *[[List of tallest buildings in South Korea]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://www.63.co.kr/en/ Official English-language website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20151125172233/http://www.miceseoul.com/venue-finder/unique/63City-42.html 63City: Seoul Convention Bureau] {{Skyscrapers in Seoul}} [[Category:Yeouido]] [[Category:Office buildings completed in 1985]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Seoul]] [[Category:Landmarks in South Korea]] [[Category:Skidmore, Owings & Merrill buildings]] [[Category:Skyscraper office buildings in Seoul]] [[Category:Hanwha]]'