Beginning in the early 1970s, most Korean cities, large and small, continued to build and then tear down new structures. These new structures tend to look very much alike instead of displaying any individuality that would be suitable to each city. Old, deteriorating single-family and multi-family dwellings or apartments are demolished to construct new high-rise apartment complexes, a trend which became the norm at some point.

Kyungsook Kim divided Korea’s major cities into four commonly recognized categories. First are the “teukbyeol-si” (special city) which includes Seoul Special City, Sejong Special Self-Governing City and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. Second are the “gwangyeok-si” (metropolitan city) which includes Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu, Ulsan, Gwangju and Busan. Third are the provincial capitals which are Suwon, Chuncheon, Cheongju, Andong and Jeonju. Fourth are the “traditional cities” which include Chungju, Sangju, Gyeongju and Naju, all of which were once prominent cities but whose status is now somewhat lower.

In these 18 cities, she photographed structures targeted for redevelopment, generally the oldest and most dilapidated structures built in the modern era, and also the most expensive apartment buildings. Then, she combined and juxtaposed these two contrasting images layer by layer, as if laying bricks, to complete her images.