Oldest theater to be demolished

The nation¡¯s oldest theater, Dansungsa, in Myo-dong, Chongno-gu, downtown Seoul, will be demolished in September to be rebuilt.

Dansungsa and Archiban, an architectural firm, announced Tuesday that a 12-story multiplex building with five basements would be built on the lot of Dansungsa as Cinecity Dansongsa with 11 independent movie houses to open in September 2003.

The two-story Dansungsa, which opened in 1907, has played the role of a major stage for dramas and movies during the era of the nation¡¯s opening to the world and after the liberation from the 1910-1945 Japanese colonial rule.

The historical theater underwent several renovations for the past 94 years, including the most extensive one in 1998, which increased the number of screens to two from one.

The building has maintained its external appearance in the renovations, but it will be demolished to be reborn as a multiplex center for performing arts.