Seoul City Unveils 5 Winning Designs for Yeouido '2nd Sejong Cultural Center'

Seoul City announced on the 20th that it has selected five winning designs for the design competition that will serve as the blueprint for the '(tentative name) 2nd Sejong Center for the Performing Arts,' which is planned to be built in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu.

Selected work by Park Hyung-il (Beom Architecture Comprehensive Architectural Office) in the '2nd Sejong Cultural Center' planning design competition.
[Photo by Seoul City]

The city held the planning design competition from May 15 to August 10, and out of a total of 55 submissions, five were selected as winners through expert evaluation.

The judging focused on the feasibility and potential of establishing a landmark representing Seoul, based on necessary uses and areas such as a large theater, cultural facilities, various attraction facilities for global tourists, and an underground parking lot for user convenience.

The winning entries were submitted by Park Hyung-il (Beom Architecture Comprehensive Architects Office), Oh Ho-geun (Design Camp Moon Park DMP Comprehensive Architects Office), Jung Young-gyun (Heerim Comprehensive Architects Office), Patrick Schumacher (Zaha Hadid Architects), and Jean-Pierre Durig (DURIG AG). Each selected team will receive a compensation of approximately 80 million KRW.

Selected work by Oh Ho-geun (Design Camp Moonbak DMP, Comprehensive Architecture Office) in the '2nd Sejong Cultural Center' planning design competition.
[Photo by Seoul City]

The competition jury commented, “The five works generally presented natural flow lines connecting to the waterfront and park, and provided an integrated interpretation of the performance hall’s structure and functions,” adding, “They received high praise for proposing excellent and diverse design plans with symbolism as Yeouido Park.”

The city plans to conduct a designated design competition for the selected works in the first half of 2025 to select a preferred negotiation candidate to carry out the design service. Subsequently, the project plan will be established through various expert consultations and public opinion gathering, and the project will proceed after going through phased administrative procedures.

Additionally, to share the project’s purpose and direction with citizens before finalizing the project plan, a design competition public forum will be held at Seoul City Hall on the 8th of next month.

Hong Seon-gi, Director of Future Space Planning at Seoul City, said, “Based on the winning works, we will do our best to build a Han River waterfront landmark befitting Yeouido’s elevated status as a downtown area,” and added, “We will create the 2nd Sejong Center for the Performing Arts as an open, complex cultural space where citizens can comfortably visit and enjoy cultural activities.”