South Korean photographer Seunggu Kim has been capturing Seoul's artificial mountains for almost a decade. Scroll through the gallery to see more of his images.
South Korean photographer Seunggu Kim has been capturing Seoul's artificial mountains for almost a decade. Scroll through the gallery to see more of his images.
Seunggu Kim
A beautification trend known as "jingeyong sansu" seeks to recreate the country's most famous mountains -- on a much smaller scale -- outside luxury apartment complexes and private villas.
A beautification trend known as "jingeyong sansu" seeks to recreate the country's most famous mountains -- on a much smaller scale -- outside luxury apartment complexes and private villas.
Seunggu Kim
Workers build a basic styrofoam mold, which is secured on, or around, the apartment block. They then cover it with soil, before planting flowers and trees to mimic a real-life mountainside.
Workers build a basic styrofoam mold, which is secured on, or around, the apartment block. They then cover it with soil, before planting flowers and trees to mimic a real-life mountainside.
Seunggu Kim
Kim has visited around 30 apartment complexes in and around Seoul to photograph the elaborate structures.
Kim has visited around 30 apartment complexes in and around Seoul to photograph the elaborate structures.
Seunggu Kim
Kim has been documenting this recreation of Mount Kumgang for years in order to observe seasonal change in shape and color.
Kim has been documenting this recreation of Mount Kumgang for years in order to observe seasonal change in shape and color.
Seunggu Kim
A recreation of Mount Kumgang pictured in the winter.
A recreation of Mount Kumgang pictured in the winter.
Seunggu Kim
The mountains' intricate design and extravagant price tags (of up to $2 million) mean they are only found in premium apartments. They are often made using high-quality rock, bonsai and other expensive plants.
The mountains' intricate design and extravagant price tags (of up to $2 million) mean they are only found in premium apartments. They are often made using high-quality rock, bonsai and other expensive plants.
Seunggu Kim
Mountains cover around 70% of the Korean peninsula and have always been an integral part of Korean identity.
Mountains cover around 70% of the Korean peninsula and have always been an integral part of Korean identity.
Seunggu Kim
"There's a positive and shamanistic belief towards mountains in Korea so it's like compressing it and bringing it back into a city where there is lack of nature," said photographer Kim.
"There's a positive and shamanistic belief towards mountains in Korea so it's like compressing it and bringing it back into a city where there is lack of nature," said photographer Kim.
Seunggu Kim
For Kim, this simulacrum of nature comes as no surprise, due to of the topographic and economic conditions in South Korea.
For Kim, this simulacrum of nature comes as no surprise, due to of the topographic and economic conditions in South Korea.
Seunggu Kim
"South Korea has developed a compressed throwaway culture, as we have relatively good amount of resources but not enough time and space to spend (them)," said Kim.
"South Korea has developed a compressed throwaway culture, as we have relatively good amount of resources but not enough time and space to spend (them)," said Kim.
Seunggu Kim
"(The fake mountains) represent an alternative landscape that city-dwellers had to accept" Kim said.
"(The fake mountains) represent an alternative landscape that city-dwellers had to accept" Kim said.
Seunggu Kim