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SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT

Gangnam, Seoul is a town that takes pride in being the country’s center of culture, art, fashion, beauty, information technology, education, and finance. It also offers premium medical service that is on a par with others in the world. The Gangnam Style frenzy triggered by Korean pop star Psy has made people all over the world pay attention to Gangnam. Gangnam-gu, Seoul has become a favorite destination among foreign tourists, with more than 2 million visiting every year. On June 26, the Gangnam Tourist Information Center was opened next to Hyundai Department Store in Apgujeong-dong to provide more convenient, warm-hearted service to foreign tourists and respond to the global attention. No doubt, it will become a new landmark in the area.

DDP and Dongdaemun History & Culture Park, In September 2006, Seoul Metropolitan Government commenced the work of developing Dongdaemun History & Culture Park to preserve the historic significance of the site of Dongdaemun Stadium and present the city’s future vision led by the creative industry. Hadogam, a unit of Hullyeon Dogram as the military training agency in charge of training of troops and repair and supply of weapons and gunpowder, used to be located on the site during the Joseon Dynasty. A section of the Seoul City Wall used to extend across the area longitudinally. During the colonial period (1910-1945), the Gyeongseong Stadium (later renamed Dongdaemun Stadium) was built there in 1926, changing the landscape of the area. The Dongdaemun Stadium (a soccer field and a ballpark) was the country’s first modern sports facility but became dilapidated; the neighboring areas also turned into slums. Thus, Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to develop the Dongdaemun History & Culture Park there as stated in the foregoing.

Seoul Metropolitan Government held an international design selection contest for the promotion of the Project Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Project. The work Metonymic Landscape, designed by Iraq-born British architect Zaha Hadid (who received the Pritzker Architectural Prize in 2004), won the top prize. Judges praised the designer’s unique concept, which attempted to portray the history, functions, and landscape of the area through the seamless connection between artificial structures and nature and fascinating sight of atypical and asymmetrical curves and oblique lines entwining the entire building. Work on the 62,957m2 site was started based on the design. Composed of a park and DDP, the project was started in April 2009. Work for the park, which features exhibition places and green areas, was completed first; the park was opened to the public in October 2009. The park has two outdoor exhibition areas where historic relics unearthed on the site during the construction work are restored, History Hall where a restored section of the Seoul City Wall, Igansumun (water gates), and other unearthed relics are displayed, Dongdaemun Stadium Memorial Hall, and two mini-exhibition halls.

The Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) is a 4-story building (with three basements) built on an 85,320m2 site. Located in the western section of the park, it will serve as a centerpiece of Seoul’s creative industries including design, fashion, culture, and arts. Construction work and preparations are underway for its operation under the vision of “Mecca of creativity and knowledge of the 21st Century.” DDP (set to open on March 3, 2014) is a workplace where design is applied to various fields to create new ideas, a school where talents are nurtured for the future, and a space where a better life is enabled. In particular, DDP introduces world design trends and design innovations and lets you see the past, present, and future of Seoul, Korea. At the same time, through DDP, you can understand the trend of Korea‘s fashion, sewing, and shoe industries at a glance. 

DDP is located in the Dongdaemun area, the gateway to the center of Seoul. Currently, this area has become Asia’s biggest clothing distribution area with traditional markets including Gwangjang and Bangsan markets and modern shopping malls such as Doosan Tower and Migliore. Likewise, the Dongdaemun area has historically been a place for communications and cultural experience. From here, DDP will open a new chapter. Moreover, in cooperation with local businesses, DDP will revitalize the local economy and pursue mutual growth.

Open 24 hours a day, DDP will provide a chance for Seoulites to see its own cultural attractions. Along with the Dongdaemun area’s continuous life cycle, DDP will be awake 24 hours a day. At the same time, DDP will show Seoul’s fashion trend. At night, DDP will unveil its new face with various cultural events, which will touch visitors’ hearts and creativity at the same time. Aside from cutting-edge technologies, DDP has space with analogue sentiment. Recreating 60 hot spots where history meets the present, DDP will provide various experiences. Ingansumun, Seoul fortress, and site for Hadogam will tell stories of Seoul’s history and add historic values to DDP. Seoul’s 600-year history is retold in DDP, and futuristic content is added to cultural assets. In this manner, DDP will offer a space where people experience time and stories.

DDP consists of art hall, museum, business center, park, and convenient facilities. As a space for fashion shows, concerts, performances, premieres, and new product launch parties, the art hall is at the center of DDP’s creative cultural content. Housing a special exhibition hall, a permanent exhibition hall, a permanent participation hall, and a design path, the museum is a space for creative exchange where you can see various trends featuring world-renowned designers as well as fast-rising ones. As a space where people share new information and trends and start businesses, the business center is divided into biz street, knowledge information center, academy hall, and designers’ lounge. DDP has on/off information platforms for business-friendly environments. In particular, the business street encourages Dongdaemun sellers, designers, marketers, and promotion experts to build the network. At the same time, it systemizes information on sewing and fashion industries and provides legal or consulting services for buyers. “Creative Park in the City” greets visitors with Seoul fortress’s historic ambience and modern street furniture to comfort their tired minds. Open round the clock, DDP offers tourists and night owls various things to see and enjoy. In DDP, it is easy to find convenient facilities for tourists, women, children, seniors, and disabled. Especially for foreign tourists, the DDP information board provides clear information so that they can easily enjoy shopping and have a cultural experience. Furthermore, to make DDP a place for communications, various participative programs for artists and general public are planned.