The place where you can meet the Chosun Dynasty, modern and contemporary of Korea, 'DDP'

“Wow, where am I ?”

It was the word that I had spoken to when I first came out at the exit 1 of Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station. “Oullim Square” was filled with lots of people, huge concrete sculptures and event booths. It is a DDP building with a curved line reminiscent of an alien spaceship when you get used to the surrounding scenery. When it was built, it was a lot of words, but now it is a landmark that stands as a landmark representing Dongdaemun. When Dongdaemun Stadium had become useless, Seoul City decided to bulid a new landmark represents Dongdaemun. The design of a female architect named “Zaha Hadid” had been adopted and DDP was built. She wanted to include futuristic values ​​on the historical, cultural, and social foundations of Dongdaemun on the DDP.

“Architecture should allow people to think about things they can not think of”

• Zaha Hadid 1950–2016

Zaha Hadid said she wanted the DDP to show the constant change and growth of culture. Several new technologies were used, but I was curious about the curved walls that make the building unique. It is said that all 45133 exterior panels have different curves. So we can see the interesting and subtle feel of the curve along the distance and the angle.

DDP is a space where exhibitions, education and events programs are always held. It is a multi-cultural space that leads trends in fashion and design. It is also a space that try various projects and generously supported by Seoul city. Typically, there is an exhibit conducted by the Gansong Museum. Gansong Art Museum has famous representative works of Korean traditional paintings, which are conveyed to the audience through DDP. In addition, large-scale fashion events such as Seoul Fashion Week are held every year at the DDP to symbolize fashion. In addition, various events and exhibitions are held from time to time. So it’s better you should check homepage before visiting.

[DDP website] COPYRIGHT ⓒ 2016 DDP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

[2018 Seoul Fashion Week] Copyright © 2015 By Seoul Fashion Week. All Rights Reserved.

Dongdaemun means the gate to the east of Seoul. It is the main gate of Seoul which is left only two with Namdaemun. The common point between the two gates is that there is a market around them. Namdaemun sells clothes, cameras, and various other items. Dongdaemun specializes in clothes and textiles. The wholesale market of Dongdaemun, which opens at night, is a distinctive sight. Many foreign tourists can now confirm that Dongdaemun, markets, fashion outlets, and DDP have established themselves as Dongdaemun tourism routes.

The DDP was built at the site of the Dongdaemun Stadium. The Dongdaemun Stadium was a playground built during the Japanese colonial period and was a playground representing the modern and contemporary history of Korea. I remember that the high school in the area where I lived was famous for baseball. So I recall that the high school participated in the finals of the national high school baseball tournament held at the Dongdaemun Stadium. So there are many sporting goods shops around DDP. If you are wondering why there is a baseball store here, please remember that there was a ballpark in the past. Seoul left the light without demolishing to commemorate the playground on one side of the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park. Please do not forget that it is a place to commemorate Korea’s athletic history, though it is hard to find any traces.

[Dongdaemun Stadium]

Continue from DDP to Dongdaemun and you will pass through Cheonggyecheon Stream and into the castle route. The castle route leads to Naksan Park. Seoul restored and unveiled the old castle route of Hanyang, the capital of Chosun, and one part of it is on the way down to Dongdaemun. A part of the castle is restored and exhibited at the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park. When you climb the castle route and look down on the Dongdaemun, you can imagine castle route continuing the line to the Dongdaemun and the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park. It is another fun of sightseeing of Dongdaemun by climbing once on the castle route and imagining the image of old Hanyang.

The remains of the Chosun Dynasty discovered at the time of DDP construction are exhibited in the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park. Inside the park, there are traces of past, and other artifacts are on display at a separate exhibition hall. Particularly, site of Hadogam(One part of the barracks of Chosun) and Yigansumun(water gate) are past heritage that represents Dongdaemun History and Culture Park. However, restoration is only a part of it, and it does not let you know its history enough, and it is regrettable that it is hard to feel inspiration without knowing beforehand. There is a beautiful rose garden with LED roses planted next to the Yigansumun. It is a place that attracts many people to the beauty like the stars have come down at night.

Thinking about and visiting DDP as a interesting building beside Dongdaemun and fashion outlets can be said to be only part of the charm of DDP.

• First, knowing culture and history surrounding DDP,
• Second, walking around the course that includes the DDP, Dongdaemun, Dongdaemun History and Culture park, various markets, castle route,

Then you can find pleasure to witness the scene where the past and present meet.

● English website of DDP