Gangnam-gu Media Pole Wins Main Prize at the iF Design Award

Gangnam-gu Wins Grand Prize at iF Design Award for Media Pole ARTscape

Creating a Global Landmark to Enjoy K-Culture by Remodeling 18 Aging Media Poles and Gangnam Square

Gangnam Station Media Pole

Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jo Seongmyeong) received the grand prize at the world-renowned design competition, the iF Design Award, last April for the ‘Gangnam Media Pole ARTscape.’

The awards were received in two categories: Interior / Architecture UX and Installations.

The iF Design Award, organized by the German marketing consulting company International Forum Design, is the oldest international design award in the world. Alongside Germany’s Red Dot Design Award and the United States’ IDEA Award, it is considered one of the world’s top three design awards.

This achievement follows the consecutive success after winning the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award in the ‘Digital Advertising & Campaign’ category at the prestigious domestic digital industry design ceremony, the ‘2022 A’ Award,’ last January.

In 2022, the district promoted the renewal of the aging and previously suspended media poles and Gangnam Square, launching a project to transform the area around Gangnam Station into a landmark. CJ CGV Co., Ltd. participated in the media pole renewal and entrusted operation, signing an agreement to use part of the advertising revenue for public contributions. As part of this public project, the ‘Media Pole ARTscape’ and ‘Square Plaza Remodeling’ were carried out.

The ‘Media Pole ARTscape’ is a compound word of art and landscape, a public media art show broadcast from 18 media poles and five large electronic billboards installed along the 760-meter stretch between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station. In collaboration with the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, it digitally displays artworks by renowned Korean artists. The show starts every night at 8:30 PM, 9:30 PM, and 10:30 PM, allowing viewers to enjoy the artworks for five minutes each time.

The ‘Gangnam Square Plaza,’ remodeled with public contribution funds, has been transformed into a permanent performance venue. K-Culture performances such as Kukkiwon Taekwondo shows, National Gugak High School concerts, and traditional Korean music performances by the Korea Cultural Foundation, as well as K-POP performances including random play dance and busking, are held every second and fourth Friday of the month. Additionally, a business agreement with Kakao Entertainment enables continuous broadcasting of K-POP music videos and other K-content on the large media wall at Gangnam Square Plaza.

Jo Seongmyeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, said, “It is highly meaningful that we have transformed the Gangnam Station media poles into a beautiful landmark recognized by one of the world’s top three design awards,” adding, “We will continue to strive to promote the Gangnam Station area as a global destination to enjoy K-Culture.”