The Seoul Light DDP festival, which transforms the exterior of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), a landmark in Seoul, into a massive media art display, has achieved a triple crown victory by sweeping the world’s three major design awards.
On Wednesday, the Seoul Design Foundation announced that Seoul Light DDP had won the Winner award at the iF Design Award 2025 in Germany, following its previous wins at the Red Dot Design Award (Main Prize) in Germany and the IDEA Design Award (Bronze) in the United States in 2023.
The award-winning project at the iF Design Award 2025, titled “Poetry of Time”, reinterprets the works of Kim Whanki, a pioneer of Korean abstract art, into media art. The project showcases nine of Kim’s iconic works, including “Full Moon,” “Duet,” and “Sincere Heart,” reflecting his deep contemplations on life, nature, art, and love.
The iF Design Award jury praised Seoul Light DDP for its artistic and technological excellence, highlighting its use of the world’s largest irregularly shaped architectural façade for media art. The jury also recognized the festival’s role in fostering artistic interaction with Seoul’s citizens, describing it as a highly engaging cultural content initiative.
Building on its three-time global design award victory, the Seoul Design Foundation plans to expand the Seoul Light DDP festival in 2025. Previously held twice a year in autumn and winter, the event will now include a summer edition, making it a triannual festival. Notably, the summer event will feature a new water space in the park behind DDP, allowing visitors to cool off from the summer heat while enjoying cultural and leisure activities.
In addition to illuminating the DDP façade with media art, the festival will also feature a city-wide light show, enveloping the entire Dongdaemun area in a spectacular display of lights.
Cha Kang Hee, CEO of the Seoul Design Foundation, stated, “Winning recognition from the world’s leading design awards is not just an acknowledgment of Korea’s media art but also a testament to Seoul’s design and cultural capabilities.” She added, “The foundation will continue to lead global design trends and promote Seoul’s creative value on the world stage.”
