Jun Itami's name restored for 'Gyeongju Tower'

Yoo E-hwa, the eldest daughter of the late architect Jun Itami and director of ITM Yoo Ehwa Architects Co., speaks during a sign hanging ceremony Monday, recognizing her father as the official designer of the Gyeongju Tower in North Gyeongsang Province, Monday. Yonhap

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Japan-born Korean architect Jun Itami (1937-2011) is now officially recognized as the official designer of the Gyeongju Tower at the Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park, North Gyeongsang Province, after 12 years of legal battles.

Yoo E-hwa, Itami's eldest daughter and architect-director of ITM Yoo Ehwa Architects Co., said she was glad to finally have her father recognized for his design.

"The legal wrangling over a decade was not easy, but I am happy to take part in this ceremony. I hope the Gyeongju Tower will be remembered as a structure that represents Itami's architectural philosophy," Yoo said.

The shape of the nine-story wooden tower of the Hwangnyongsa Temple is embodied in the glass tower. It has been a landmark of the ancient capital city since completed in 2007, but there has been controversy over plagiarism since its design was similar to that which Itami submitted to an open competition.

Itami, whose real name is Yoo Dong-ryong, did not give up his Korean nationality while mainly working in Japan. He is known for incorporating elements from nature and the environment in his architectural designs.

Since he retained his Korean citizenship throughout his life, Itami was not able to take part in national architectural competitions in Japan. So when Gyeongju City opened the competition for its signature tower in 2004, Itami gladly submitted the design, which placed second.

The Gyeongju Tower, which embodies the shape of the nine-story wooden tower in Hwangnyong Temple, at Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park in North Gyeongsang Province / Yonhap

However, when the tower was finished in 2007, it looked similar to Itmai's glass tower design, not the winning design which was based on the Cheomseongdae Observatory.

Itami's side saw the similarity between his design and the actual Gyeongju Tower and filed lawsuits against the Culture Expo Foundation in 2007. The Supreme Court ruled that the design copyright of the tower belongs to Itami in July 2011, but Itami passed away a month before the ruling.

The foundation installed a small plaque in the tower, but it lacked visibility and was not maintained, which initiated Itami's family to file another suit.

Lee Cheol-woo, governor of North Gyeongsang Province who doubles as the chairperson of the Culture Expo Foundation, called for Itami to be recognized as the original designer of Gyeongju Tower. Informational signs about Itami were unveiled Monday at the ceremony.

Lee apologized for the infringement on Itami's intellectual property, stating the copyright of artists should be protected.

In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Itami's death, Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park plans to hold a special exhibition dedicated to the late architect next year.