Seoul Design Week draws 670,000 visitors as city expands global reach

Seoul Design Week welcomed 670,000 visitors over a 12-day period, transforming the city into a vast exhibition of design and consumer culture. The event, organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Design Foundation, ran from October 14 to 25, and featured 871 companies and brands, 370 designers, and 353 university students.

This year's festival broke the mold by expanding beyond the traditional Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) to 150 design destinations across five districts of Seoul, including Seongsu, Yeonhui, Seochon, and Apgujeong. This diversification provided visitors with the chance to discover design in various settings, from studios to exhibitions and everyday spaces.

A notable aspect of this year's festival was the DDP Design Fair, held in collaboration with lifestyle commerce platform 29CM. The fair, which ran for five days, attracted 35,000 visitors who explored 80 brands presenting their products under the theme "A market full of personal tastes." The event served as a platform for connecting consumers with both emerging and established designers, offering participating brands the opportunity to test customer reactions and explore new avenues for sales.

As Seoul prepares to host the 2027 World Design Congress, the city's design scene has gained significant international attention through Seoul Design Week.