Tech meets tradition as 17 designers reimagine Korea's 'soban' table
A humble Korean table is getting a high-tech second life in Seoul, where 17 designers are turning the traditional "soban" into sculptural objects shaped by 3D printing, lacquer and mother-of-pearl. The Seoul Design Foundation is presenting SEOUL LIFE 2026: Heritage Reimagined, Soban from Monday through Oct. 8 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza’s (DDP) Design Dullegil Gallery, bringing works first shown…
Korea's traditional soban table is undergoing a high-tech transformation in Seoul, as 17 designers reimagine the humble piece of furniture. The Seoul Design Foundation is showcasing the reimagined soban in an exhibition titled "SEOUL LIFE 2026: Heritage Reimagined, Soban" at Dongdaemun Design Plaza’s Design Dullegil Gallery, from Monday through October 8.
The soban, a small, portable table traditionally used for individual dining, stands roughly 30 centimeters off the ground and is designed to hold a single meal. The exhibition, which first displayed works at Milan Design Week in April, received 20,346 visitors at ADI Design Museum in Milan, where the fusion of traditional Korean craftsmanship and contemporary design was met with positive reception.
Cha Kang-hee, CEO of the Seoul Design Foundation, explained that the soban embodies Korea's traditional lifestyle culture while seamlessly adapting to modern life. Through this exhibition, the foundation aims to share this unique design asset with the Korean public.
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