Dongkuk Steel Group to Erect 16m Tall Sculpture at Seoul Urban Architecture Biennale

Business Agreement Signed with Seoul City for Successful Event
Premium Architectural Material 'Luxteel' to Be Used in Sculpture

Dongkuk Steel Group will participate in the '5th Seoul Urban Architecture Biennale' and showcase a large-scale sculpture measuring 90m wide and 16m high.

Dongkuk Steel Group announced on the 15th that it has signed a business agreement with the Seoul Metropolitan Government for the successful hosting of the Seoul Urban Architecture Biennale. The Seoul Urban Architecture Biennale is an international event held biennially since 2017, hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. It proposes the future of cities and new paradigms of urban architecture. This year, it will be held for two months starting in September under the theme "Radically More Human." The world-renowned designer Thomas Heatherwick, known as the "Leonardo da Vinci of the UK," is serving as the general director.

Photos from the agreement ceremony. From the left, Im Chang-su, Seoul Metropolitan Government Future Space Planning Officer; Thomas Heatherwick; Jang Se-wook, Vice Chairman of Dongkuk Steel Group. Provided by Dongkuk Holdings.

Through this agreement, Dongkuk Steel Group will participate in installing sculptures for the main exhibition at the Open Songhyeon Green Plaza, the central event of the Biennale. The material used will be the premium architectural material "Luxteel." The main wall to be produced using Luxteel will measure 90m wide and 16m high. It is a curved sculpture that twists the rectangular shape symbolizing standardized architecture. A company representative explained, "The selected team for the project will divide the area to express the image of 'Seoul,'" adding, "This is to allow visitors to stroll around the main wall and feel Seoul."

Dongkuk Steel Group plans to combine Dongkuk CM’s world-first developed "digital printing" technology and Ajou Steel’s "Atex Big Picture" technology, recently incorporated into the group, in the sculpture. Digital printing enables photo-like images to be realized on steel surfaces, and Atex Big Picture is a technology that continuously prints desired images on coils divided according to panel size without quality degradation or distortion, allowing for unlimited expansion of the image.

Vice Chairman Jang Se-wook said at the signing ceremony, "Based on the creative capabilities of Dongkuk Steel Group’s architectural materials such as Luxteel, we will assist in realizing General Director Thomas Heatherwick’s vision 120% down to the finest details," adding, "This aligns with the group’s mission to contribute to 'cultural development' beyond profit realization through products and services." General Director Thomas Heatherwick responded, "I believe every project requires craftsmanship," and said, "Meeting Dongkuk Holdings’ detailed support and craftsmanship gave me confidence that 'we can do well.'"