The development of modern architecture in Korea and, more recently, South Korea, is closely tied to the country's dramatic transformations since the late 19^th century. The authors interrogate major periods from the Late Joseon Dynasty to the vibrant democratic present, showing how architecture, by making technological and stylistic leaps, has played a important role in the construction of the nation's identity.

The architectural analyses, ranging from Hwaseong Fortress to 21^st-century constructions like Paju Book City, Ssamziegil Shopping Center, the Boutique Monaco skyscraper, and the Bauzium Sculpture Museum, focus on buildings in which the formation of a specifically Korean modernism is particularly observable. The appendix includes biographical descriptions of major architectural figures.