63 Building

The 63 Building is a 249.6 m skyscraper on the Han River at Yeouido, Seoul. When it opened in 1985 it was the tallest building in the world outside North America, and for years it was the image of modern Seoul. In June 2026 its 60th-floor observatory reopened as 63 Sky Picnic, and for the first time visitors can also go up to the roof and look down on the Han River.

History: a landmark for the Olympic city

Construction started in February 1980, and the building officially opened on 27 July 1985. It was built as a landmark ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and on the eve of the opening ceremony the Olympic flame spent the night in front of it. It remained the tallest building in South Korea until it was overtaken in 2003.

Despite the name, the regular floors only go up to the 60th; floors 61–63 used to be closed to the public. Its outline was designed to resemble the Chinese character for "person" (人), a nod to the business of Daehan Life Insurance, which built it. The popular Aqua Planet 63 aquarium and the 63 Art gallery closed on 30 June 2024.

What to see

• Main observatory, 60th floor: about 250 m above the ground. Mirrors from floor to ceiling reflect the skyline of Yeouido, the Han River, Namsan and Jamsil.
• Immersive screening room and special exhibition hall: a room where walls, ceiling and floor are all screens, and a hologram display that reacts to your touch. Exhibitions are set to change with the seasons.
• Rooftop, 63rd floor: the former helipad, now laid with grass and open to the public for the first time in about 16 years. With no glass in the way, you see Seoul in the open air. Only observatory visitors can go up.
• Centre Pompidou Hanwha: the Korean branch of the Centre Pompidou opened on 4 June 2026 in the building's renovated annex, with an opening show including works by Picasso and Chagall.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: daily 10:00–22:00 (tickets 09:50–21:30), open all year. The rooftop may close without notice in rain, strong wind or lightning.
• Admission: adults (13–64) KRW 27,000, children (3–12) and seniors (65+) KRW 23,000. Infants under 36 months go free with proof of age.
• Getting there: from Yeouinaru Station (Line 5) Exit 1 take bus 261, 5633, 5634 or Yeongdeungpo 11; from Yeouido Station (Line 5) Exit 5 take bus 261 or Yeongdeungpo 11; from Saetgang Station (Line 9) Exit 3 take bus 5633 or 5634; from Daebang Station (Line 1) Exit 7 take Yeongdeungpo 11.
• Good to know: strollers, suitcases and large backpacks are not allowed, and to protect the floors wheelchairs cannot be used inside the viewing areas, so check before you go.
• When to go: go up around sunset to see the evening sky and the city lights. 1–2 hours is enough.