K-Art & Culture: Dongdaemun District Tour & Stefan Sagmeister ‘Now is Better’ Exhibition at DDP

Dongdaemun Market is one of Seoul’s most popular shopping districts but there are many more things to see in this part of the capital city, such as the area around the iconic Dongdaemun Design Plaza and the ancient Dongdaemun Gate and fortress hill.

Our tour will start at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), a major urban landmark designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The modern building replaced Dongdaemun stadium, which was built in the Japanese colonial era, and is the home of global exhibitions and South Korea’s fashion hub.

We will view together the ongoing exhibition by renowned Austrian designer Stefan Sagmeister: ‘Now is Better’. He is widely praised for his bold and provocative designs. His work is based on in-depth research of meaningful data and evidence related to global issues such as quality of life, life expectancy, death, poverty, crime rate and greenhouse gas emissions, etc. 

In the second part of our tour we will explore the district of Dongdaemun, taking a walk along Cheonggyechon Stream, the artificial riverfront running through the city center; Dongdaemun Gate, the main eastern gate that used to be part of the outer wall of Seoul Fortress long ago; and the uncharted fortress hill that sits silently in the landscape.

We will end the tour at J.Hidden House, a tucked away traditional Korean Hanok café which has been recently remodelled with contemporary design elements to offer a quiet time travel from past to future. You can enjoy the ultimate harmony of traditional Korean hanok and modern decorations with a selection of luxurious desserts.

Event date & time: 2024.02.13. 10:30 am – 13:30 pm

Event host: Jean Kim,  jean@siwakorea.com

Venue: Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station – Subway Exit  1 / 동대문역사문화공원역1번출구지하철출구

Meeting spot: Exit 1 of Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station (Lines 2, 4, and 5) – closest to B2 level entrance to Oullim Square, the DDP Market, the Design Lab, and the Museum.

Nr of participants: 10

Ticket price: free

Additional Information: Our K-art & Culture Exploration events are free, you only pay for your own tickets (if applicable), drinks and snacks.  Exclusively for SIWA members and their guests.