Diplomatic missions to Korea tend to be clustered in four locations in Seoul namely Seongbuk-dong, Hannam-dong, Jongno and Gangnam. There are 24 embassies in Seongbuk and Hannam-dongs, respectively, and the former has the attraction of a good mountainous view, yet is convenient for downtown.
European embassies, including Austria, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Sweden, are sited there, as are the residences of Japan and Germany. The Japanese residence can accommodate some 50 vehicles inside while the German one is equipped with luxury hotel style banquet hall on the first floor.
Diplomats prefer living in and around UN Village in Hannam-dong, which has lots of apartment buildings and mansions for foreigners and offers views of the Han River.
In many cases embassies share the same building to save maintenance costs, for example, Kyobo building in Jongno, packed with the largest number of embassy offices. On its 11th-20th floors, seven embassies are sited namely Australia, Columbia, the Netherlands, Finland, New Zealand, Austria and Sri Lanka.
In Jongno, the heart of downtown Seoul adjacent to government building complex, the Brunei, Chile, Dominica, Honduras, Panama embassies are located in the Gwanghwamun, Hungkuk, Taepyeongno, Jongno Tower, and Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co. buildings.
Recently, the Diplomatic Center in Seocho-dong has housed the Philippines, Ukraine and Uzbekistan embassies.
Most recently, the Russian embassy opened its doors at the site of the former Baejae High School in Jeong-dong, Jung-gu. The embassy complex has a six- and twelve-storey buildings, and two one-story buildings, and features two gates at the entrance and a 2-3m high wall. Each story has CCTV for security enough to create rumors that Russian intelligence was involved in the embassy building project.
(Kim Seong-hyun, danpa@chosun.com)
