Dongdaemun Design Plazaย (DDP)
The DDP complex entered the list of 100 major tourist attractions of Korea 2019-2020. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza is a cultural and entertainment complex that combines traditional buildings, historical relics, and artifacts, as well as state-of-the-art equipment and modern architecture. Architect Zaha Hadid believes that the shape of buildings in the city can practically affect the minds of residents: by “surrounding” people with fantastic buildings, you can “teach” them to take the extraordinary and create new ones.
The Museum Hall is comprised of five sections: Design Playground, Design Dulle-gil(trail), Design Museum, Design Exhibition Hall, and the Design Rest Area. The Design Lab serves as an incubator for rising Korean and international creative product designers. The Design Market is a multipurpose space that combines culture, experiences, and shopping. This hall is open 24 hours a day to provide added convenience to visitors of Dongdaemun Market, the town that never sleeps.
DDP is a miracle of modern architecture, it looks like a giant alien ship that has landed in the middle of a metropolis. Unbelievably beautiful. It is completely impossible to photograph an object, it is huge, does not fit into the frame. The inside is also quite interesting, but still inferior in appearance. Around interesting statues. When you are in Seoul, do not miss the opportunity to admire this man-made creation.
Entrance to the complex is free – you can walk through galleries and sites that resemble space stations. The architecture of the future, I enjoyed the design.
The complex itself is used as an expo center, entrance to the exhibition is paid.
I advise you to visit if you architecture lover.
And also, once a year, a Korean fashion week takes place here in the spring.
Available Facilities
- Art Hall: Art Hall 1, 2, International Conference Hall
- Museum: Design Museum, Design Exhibition Hall, Design Playground, Design Pathway, Pathway Cafe
- Design Shop: Design Shops, Academy Hall
- Oullim Square: Miraero Bridge, Design Market, Information Center
- Dongdaemun History & Culture Park: An eco-friendly park
(Gallery MUN, Yigansumun Exhibition Hall, Dongdaemun History Museum 1398, Dongdaemun Stadium Memorial, Seoul Fortress Hall (Yigansu Gate), Garden Yigansu Gate)
Age Limit for Activities: Open to visitors of all ages
Operating Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-19:00 (* Closed Mondays)
Parking Facilities: Available
Facility Utilization Fees: [Self-guided tour] Free (Separate fees may apply to events and programs)
Address: 281, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoulย Official website: Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Central Asian Food
Many of you have probably heard about the Russian quarter of Seoul, where a small community of immigrants from the former Soviet Union lived for a quarter of a century. In the beginning, at the very beginning of the nineties, the Far Eastern Koreans came here – to their historical homeland. Then ordinary Russians from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk began to travel more actively and settle here. But now mainly Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, and Mongols live here. Someone lives permanently in Korea, others come for business. Today there are almost no Russians left as such, the bulk of the Russian speakers are Uzbeks and Kyrgyz.
There are many Asian restaurants in the area. Usually, students, who miss home-cooked food but cannot cook in the dormitory, come here to eat.
These restaurants are not particularly in demand among Koreans, but there are those who have been to study or work in Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and Kyrgyzstan and miss those country foods. Basically, all visitors are working people from CIS or students from these countries.
One of these restaurants is called Fortuna (not far from the 5th exit). We ordered three different dishes. It was delicious, but expensive compared to other restaurants. For example, “Gulyash” cost 12.000 won, “Okroshka” about 10.000 won and “Brizol” – 12.000 won. Paprika flavored crackers and Korean salad, which is prepared by Koreans from the CIS countries, are served for free.
Okroshka, which my friend ordered, was prepared quickly, but my order was prepared for about 40 minutes. If you miss homemade food, I recommend this place. All Russian-speaking people are sitting around and there is a feeling that you have come to your homeland ๐
Address: Seoul, Jung-gu, Gwanghuidong 1(il)-ga, Mareunnae-ro, 154
Tel. 0507-14072723
Mon-Sun: 10:00-24:00
