Seoul City announced that the design proposal by ‘Design Camp Moon Park DMP’ was selected as the final winner in the international design competition for the construction of the Second Sejong Cultural Center, held at the multipurpose hall of the Seoul City Hall on the 4th, attended by more than 400 citizens and experts.
The Second Sejong Cultural Center is a key project of Seoul City’s urban regeneration initiative known as the ‘Great Hangang Project’ and will be located north of Yeouido Park. Covering a total floor area of 66,000 square meters, the facility will include a large performance hall with 1,800 seats, a medium-size hall with 800 seats, an exhibition hall covering 5,670 square meters, and a public observatory.
Seoul City plans to sign a design contract with the winner within this year and conduct basic and detailed designs over approximately 14 months. Construction is scheduled to commence in December 2026, with the completion targeted for December 2029.
This international design competition focused on evaluating the symbolic significance of the location as a waterfront cultural hub, the connectivity with Yeouido Park and the Hangang River, as well as the public accessibility of the open space.
Notably, from the design competition’s guidelines stage, provisions were made for outdoor stages and a large screen to enable anyone to enjoy performances without tickets. An open rooftop observatory is also planned, allowing for views of the Hangang River and Seoul’s skyline. This aims for the Second Sejong Cultural Center to function not just as a performance venue but as a space for cultural and leisure activities for citizens.
The winning design features two performance halls oriented vertically facing the Hangang River and Yeouido Park to maximize the natural scenery. The open lobby is designed to face different directions, offering diverse urban views. Additionally, the area along Yeouido-ro is planned as a plaza, allowing citizens to seamlessly move between Yeouido Park and the Hangang River. The outdoor performance venue includes a theater-sized large screen for real-time viewing of performances from the main hall even for those outside.
The jury commented, “The design’s interpretation of urban context through the open spatial composition connecting the Hangang River, Yeouido Park, and Yeouido-ro was meticulous,” and added, “The Second Sejong Cultural Center is expected to become a new cultural landmark in Yeouido.”
The judging panel included a total of nine members: Chairman Choi Moon-kyu, Professor at Yonsei University; Koo Ja-hoon, Professor at Hanyang University; Shim Hee-jun, Representative of Architecture Studio; Jun Suk-hee, Director of Wise Architecture; Jun Yoo-chang, Professor at Ajou University; Choi Jong-hee, Professor at Paichai University; Ahn Ho-sang, President of Sejong Center; Park Jeong-hwan, Professor at Hongik University (preliminary); Lee Tae-seob, Director of TSPACE (preliminary).
Seoul City will hold an award ceremony on the 10th at 10 a.m. in the Sejong Lounge on the first floor of the Sejong Center, officially marking the commencement of the Second Sejong Cultural Center project. After the ceremony, the winning work and four other entries will be exhibited until the 16th for public viewing.
Cho Nam-jun, Director of Seoul City’s Urban Space Headquarters, stated, “The Second Sejong Cultural Center will become a new cultural icon of Seoul and a common space accessible to all citizens in their daily lives,” and added, “The process from design to construction will be transparently disclosed, and citizen feedback will be actively incorporated.”