First Local Government in Korea to Win Top Prize at the World's Largest and Most Prestigious International Competition, "A' Design Award 2025"
Awarded Platinum in the "Street and City Furniture" Category...
Recognized as a New Model for Urban Public Facilities Combining Advanced Technologies such as Fine Dust Filtration, Climate Control, Smart Information, and Public Wi-Fi
Leading Urban Innovation with Consecutive Wins at Global Eco-Friendly and Design Awards, Including Silver at the "2024 Green Apple Awards" and "2025 Green World Awards"
The "Seongdong Smart Shelter" in Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) has been honored with the highest Platinum grade at the international design competition "A' Design Award & Competition 2025," becoming the first local government in Korea to receive this distinction.
Launched in 2009, the "A' Design Award" is one of the world's top three design competitions, hosted by Italy's OMC Design Studios S.R.L. It is the largest and most prestigious international contest, comprehensively evaluating creativity, practicality, and social value. For the 2024-2025 awards, participants from 115 countries submitted tens of thousands of entries across 157 design categories.
Seongdong-gu entered the "Seongdong Smart Shelter" in the "Street and City Furniture" category, which recognizes various structures and installations designed for public convenience, safety, and aesthetics in urban spaces. The project was awarded the Platinum grade, which is given only to the top 1% of entries. This marks the first time a public institution or local government, rather than a domestic company or designer, has won this award. The achievement demonstrates global recognition of Seongdong-gu's innovative value realization and outstanding design competitiveness in urban public spaces.
The "Seongdong Smart Shelter" was conceptualized based on feedback from local residents and realized in collaboration with LG Electronics, which handled the design. It is regarded as a new model for urban public facilities, combining advanced technologies such as fine dust filtration, heating and cooling, smart information systems, and public Wi-Fi to enhance the daily convenience of residents.
The official award ceremony is scheduled for July 17 at Teatro Sociale Como in Como, Italy, with designers, corporate representatives, media, and officials from governments and cultural institutions from around the world in attendance. In addition, the "Seongdong Smart Shelter" will be featured at the "2025 A' Design Award Winner Exhibition" and in the official yearbook, further promoting Seongdong-gu's innovative urban policies to a global audience.
The "Seongdong Smart Shelter" previously won the Silver Award at the "2024 Green Apple Awards" and, in May, received the Silver Award in the "Energy Management - Carbon Reduction" category at the internationally recognized "Green World Awards" held in New Zealand. The shelter has been highly praised worldwide for its outstanding carbon reduction performance, eco-friendliness, proactive urban policies, and innovation in public facilities.
Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, "It is an honor for the 'Seongdong Smart Shelter' to become the first local government project in Korea to receive the Platinum award, given to the top 1% at the world's most prestigious design competition. I take pride in the fact that Seongdong-gu's innovative smart inclusive policies, which improve daily convenience for residents, have been highly regarded not only in Korea but also internationally. We will continue to strengthen our efforts to promote sustainable public design policies."
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