Dongdaemun Design Plaza

So I've taken a third trip back to Korea. This time, I checked out places that I hadn't been in 2013. One of them was Dongdaemun Design Plaza which was under construction the last time I was there. The plaza replaced the Dongdaemun Stadium, turning into the heart of Seoul's design scene. DDP showcases the works of different designers. From architecture to fashion, you can see the pride and progress of Korean arts. The plaza consists of 5 main areas that you can access:

1. Art Hall

The Art Hall is actually a building with three halls: Art Hall 1, Art Hall 2, and International Conference Hall. This building has hosted various events such as the Seoul Fashion Week, You Who Came From the Stars exhibit, car showcases, etc. The Art Hall is used for such big scale events like concerts and fashion shows, which usually require an invitation to enter.

2. Museum Hall

The Museum Hall has 5 parts: Design Experience Zone, Design Museum, Pathway Cafe, Design Exhibition Hall, Design Pathway. This building hosts history exhibitions related to the arts. When I was there, the Design Museum was used to host the Audrey Hepburn: Beauty Beyond Beauty exhibition. Entrance fees apply, and that exhibit cost KRW13,000 for adults. You have to purchase tickets at the ticket counter situated near the entrance. The Design Experience Zone that is open to families with children of ages 5-12, and offers a variety of interactive design content for children.

3. Design Lab

The main halls, Design Labs 1 and 2, are on the higher levels, showcasing the products of several successful Korean designers. The halls are divided into stalls where you can see and purchase artistic inventions for your closet or for your home. Here are some of the products that I saw:

$200 lamps

The products are definitely not cheap, with the furniture costing at least W100,000. Some other products on sale are the works of famous celebrity Yoon Joon Sang who is an actor and an artist, and merchandise from Big Hit Entertainment (BTS) and SM Entertainment.

Star+Stadium=Stardium

The Design Lab also has a box gallery that displays one or two works from rising artists. They also showcase old artifacts that give a glimpse of technology in the past.

4. Oullim Square

The square consists of the concrete Miraero Bridge, the Design Market, and the excavation site. The Design Market(B1) is a general shopping area that has shops like Watsons and Aritaum that supply your makeup needs. The market also has cafes and restaurants for you to have your meals or take a break. The market also has a few shops that sell accessories and brand products. The excavation site displays the traces of the national military institute that existed on that location in the Joseon period.

5. Dongdaemun History & Culture Park

The park features a portion of the Seoul Fortress Wall, the Dongdaemun Stadium Memorial, and a design gallery.

Honest thoughts:
Let me give you a warning: for a place that boasts of international relations in the art industry, this place barely has ANYONE who speaks English. The people at the Art Hall struggled to tell me that the exhibit was invitation-only and the counter outside the hall flatly told me that they don't speak English -with no sympathy at all. So I was like a lost little lamb in a language barred labyrinth with no idea what was where. I didn't even know about the park which is sad because I was looking forward to it when I saw it in 2013. What a waste.
If you are into art and design, this place is worth a shot to see some of Korea's innovative creations. Although, stalls like Design Tag might be cheaper in Hongdae. I think it would be.

Directions:
Exit from Lines 2, 4, and 5 to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station Exit 1. 

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