Lee Eunseok

Lee Eunseok (이은석, 李恩石, born 1962) is an architect and architectural theorist from South Korea. He is a professor at Kyung Hee University and a French registered architect. He was a student of Henri Ciriani, who is known as the successor of Le Corbusier. Lee has designed various structures including the Millennium Gate (Seoul Ring), Saemoonan Church, Meditation Chapel, Son Yang Won Memorial Museum, National Museum of Korean Literature, National Gugak Center Performance Practice Hall, Bujeon Glocal Vision Center, Heavenly Gem Church, Korean-American Art & Cultural Center in LA.

Eunseok Lee's design style can be classified as New Modernism, a Korean evolution of Modernist architecture. His works emphasize 'geometric shapes' and 'conceptual verbs,' with a strong focus on public engagement and architectural hospitality. He has designed a wide range of buildings in various types and sizes, including houses, residential complexes, commercial spaces, cafes, hotels, schools, memorials, art galleries, museums, performance venues, corporate offices, research institutes, convention centers, and landmarks. He is particularly well-known in the architectural community for his monumental architecture and religious buildings.

Early life and career
Eunseok Lee graduated from the Department of Architecture at Hongik University and is a French registered architect (Architecte DPLG), having graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Paris-Belleville. He also obtained a Doctorate in Art History (Doctorat en histoire de l’art) from Pantheon-Sorbonne University, Paris 1. Currently, he is a professor in the Department of Architecture at Kyung Hee University. His roles have included President of the Architecture Design Institute of Korea, a chief architectural consultant for Sejong City, and a member of the examination committee for the Korean Institute of Registered Architects (KIRA).

In 1995, Lee became the first Korean to win first place in an international architectural design competition by winning the Korean American Museum of Art and Culture Center in Los Angeles, USA. This competition saw participation from 475 teams with over 1,600 individuals from 68 countries worldwide. The jury included Richard Meier (Chairman), Michael Graves, Robert A.M. Stern, Kim Jong-sung, and Yoon Seung-jung among the seven members. His victory as a young, relatively unknown Korean architect left a significant impact in the architectural communities of the USA, France, and Korea, and marked his first major recognition in both domestic and international architectural circles.

After returning to Korea, in 1999, he won first place again in the Millennium Gate competition. This competition saw registrations from 181 teams, including renowned architects and artists like Nam June Paik, with 36 final design entries submitted. The jury was composed of leading figures in the Korean architectural scene at the time, including Jang Seok-woong (Chairman), Kang Seok-won, Ko Joo-seok, Kim Jin-kyun, Oh Hwi-young, Yu Wan, Lee Woo-jin, Ji Soon, and Han Do-ryong.

Lee serves as the lead architect at Atelier KOMA. He has received numerous domestic architecture awards, including the Korean Architecture Culture Award (2003), the Korean Institute of Architects Award (2017, 2018, 2023), the Korean Architectural Design Association Award (2019), the Church Architecture Culture Award (2010, 2015, 2018), and architecture awards from Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Busan, Daegu, and Gyeonggi-do. His works have also been internationally recognized, winning awards such as the Architecture Master Prize(2019, 2020) and the Architizer A+Awards(2020).

Major works

 * National Museum of Korean Literature
 * Meditation Chapel
 * Saemoonan Church
 * Son Yang Won Memorial Museum
 * Bujeon Glocal Vision Center
 * Heavenly Gem Church
 * Leean House
 * The Millennium Gate (Seoul Ring)
 * Korean-American Art & Cultural Center in LA

Architectural Hospitality
Architectural Hospitality is a concept extensively explored by Eunseok Lee in his book "Hospitality of Architect Eunseok Lee: Seven Thoughts Towards Open Architecture." In this book, the author describes seven architectural languages that can realize publicness and hospitality in building design: 1) Promenade and Escort, 2) Heritage and Consideration, 3) Symbolism and Metaphor, 4) Embracement and Fellowship, 5) Elevation and Openness, 6) Filling and Sharing, and 7) Nature and Meditation.

Books

 * "Hospitality of Architect Eunseok Lee: Seven Thoughts Towards Open Architecture," Pixel House, 2023
 * "The World's Best Buildings," Phaidon, 2021
 * "Lifted Architecture, Open Value," Space Saga, 2019
 * "OPEN BGVC," Pixel House, 2018
 * "Point-Counterpoint, Trajectories of Ten Korean Architects, Paris," The Architectural Publisher, 2015
 * "Here, Connected: Korea-France Architecture Exhibition," Anyang Foundation for Culture & Arts (Kim Jung-up Museum), 2015
 * "Ecole de Paris," Pixel House, 2013
 * "5 Architects with Church Architecture," Space Time, 2010
 * "Beautiful Church Architecture," Duranno Publisher, 2008 - Awarded the Korean Christian Publishing Culture Award
 * "Lee Eunseok, Modern Church & Cultural Architecture," 2007
 * "Lee Eunseok, From Art to Architecture," 2007
 * "Architects of the World 37 (Lee Eunseok)," Architecture World, 2006
 * "Incomplete Modernity," Kyung Hee University, 2005
 * "New Church Architecture, Do It This Way," Duranno, 2001

Awards

 * 2023 Korean Institute of Architects, Best 7 - Meditation Chapel
 * 2022 International Architectural Design Competition, 1st Place - Gyeongsangbuk-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services (Beyond Horizon)
 * 2021 International Architectural Design Competition, 1st Place - National Museum of Korean Literature (Munhak Village)
 * 2020 Architizer A+Awards, Winner in Religious Architecture and Memorials Category - Saemoonan Church
 * 2020 Architecture Master Prize, 1st Place in Cultural Architecture Category - Son Yang-Won Memorial Museum
 * 2020 ArchDaily, Finalist for Building of the Year - Saemoonan Church
 * 2020 International Architectural Design Competition, Finalist - Korean Pavilion at Dubai Expo
 * 2019 Architecture Master Prize, 1st Place in Cultural Architecture Category - Saemoonan Church
 * 2019 Architecture Design Institute of Korea, Grand Prize - Bujeon Glocal Vision Center
 * 2018 Korean Institute of Architects, Best 7 - Son Yang-Won Memorial Museum
 * 2018 Church Architecture Culture Award - Dunsan Sungkwang Church
 * 2017 Korean Cultural Space Award - Son Yang-Won Memorial Museum
 * 2017 Architectural Design Competition, 1st Place - National Gugak Center Performance Practice Hall
 * 2017 Busan Architectural Award, Gold Prize - Bujeon Glocal Vision Center
 * 2017 Korean Institute of Architects, Best 7 - Heavenly Gem Church
 * 2017 Architectural Design Competition, 1st Place - Gaepodong Church
 * 2015 Church Architecture Culture Award - Busan Osan Church
 * 2015 Architectural Design Competition, 1st Place - New Stay Wirye New Town Terraced Houses
 * 2014 Architectural Design Competition, Finalist - Seosomun History Park
 * 2014 Architectural Design Competition, 1st Place - LH Sejong Headquarters Single-Family Housing Complex (Troa Hills)
 * 2013 Seoul Metropolitan City Architecture Award, Excellence Award - Chongshin University Sadang Campus Wing Building
 * 2013 Architectural Design Competition, 1st Place - Son Yang-Won Memorial Museum
 * 2012 Architectural Design Competition, 1st Place - Chongshin University Sadang Campus Wing Building
 * 2011 Gyeonggi-do Architecture Culture Award, Silver Prize - Neulsaem Church
 * 2011 Architectural Design Competition, 1st Place - Bujeon Glocal Vision Center
 * 2010 Church Architecture Culture Award, Grand Prize - Beomeo Church
 * 2010 Church Architecture Culture Award, Silver Prize - Neulsaem Church
 * 2010 Gyeonggi-do Architecture Culture Award, Bronze Prize - Leean House
 * 2010 Architectural Design Competition, 1st Place - Saemoonan Church
 * 2009 Daegu City Architecture Award, Silver Prize - Beomeo Church
 * 2006 Gangnam District Beautiful Building Award - Cheongdam Woojeonga
 * 2003 Korean Architecture Culture Award, Excellence Award - Gyeongsan Church
 * 2003 Gyeonggi-do Architecture Culture Award, Gold Prize - World Vision Church
 * 2000 International Architectural Design Competition, 1st Place - The Millennium Gate (Seoul Ring)
 * 1995 International Architectural Design Competition, 1st Place - Korean American Museum of Art and Cultural Center in LA