Friends, I continue to introduce you to interesting places in Seoul. Today’s article is dedicated to Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a cultural and entertainment complex located not far from the city center. The structure is best known for having been designed by Zaha Hadid, who is often ranked among the world’s most renowned architects.
History of the Complex
Dongdaemun Design Plaza is a relatively new landmark in Seoul. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in late April 2009, and construction lasted for five years. The name of the complex comes from the Dongdaemun district where it is located. The abbreviation DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) is also interpreted as “dream, design, play.”
As mentioned above, the complex was built by Zaha Hadid’s studio, in collaboration with Patrik Schumacher, a large team from Zaha Hadid Architects, and local South Korean companies. Zaha Hadid passed away two years after the completion of the Seoul project. Today, her work can be seen in Germany, Italy, Azerbaijan, the UK, the USA, Russia, and other countries.
Inside Dongdaemun Design Plaza, you’ll find exhibition halls, a conference hall, design labs, a media center, seminar rooms, a café, and a shop. The complex also includes a landscaped park, which I found quite small—perhaps because, as the architects intended, the design avoids any dominant features. According to the Zaha Hadid Architects website, the park’s goal is to blur the boundaries between the indoor and outdoor spaces of the complex.
How to Get There
The Dongdaemun Design Plaza building is located near Dongdaemun and Sindang metro stations. If you enjoy walking through the city, you can follow the same route I took: I started at the traditional village of Bukchon, walked to the western end of Cheonggyecheon Stream, and followed the stream toward the complex.
Some areas of Dongdaemun Design Plaza are open to the public for free, but I chose to visit one of the paid exhibition spaces, which featured an interactive installation. Some of the rooms had moving elements with unusual lighting, while in others, animated visuals showed changing seasons on the walls.
The entrance fee for the interactive exhibition in October 2024 was 20,000 won. You could pay with cash or a bank card. Various events are held on the grounds of Dongdaemun Design Plaza, including free programs. Visitors can enjoy exhibitions, fashion shows, guided tours, and even farmers’ markets. The full schedule of educational and entertainment programs is available on the official website.
My next article about my trip to South Korea will be dedicated to local cuisine — I’ll tell you about visiting the ramyun library in Seoul.
Have a nice trip!
