Rhythmic Skyline, Next-Generation Playground... Design Seoul 2.0 Unveiled (Comprehensive)

Announcement of the 'Joyful Vitality City Seoul' Project on the 20th
"Continuing Design Seoul 1.0 and Establishing a New Identity"
Setting Five Principles: Empathy, Inclusion, Contribution, Recovery, and Sustainability

A rhythmic skyline is being drawn across the night sky of Seoul. A multi-generational playground where grandmothers and granddaughters play together is emerging, and public spaces where people and companion animals coexist are being created. Anyone can encounter art at public art landmarks, and illegal buildings and illegal parking will disappear.

Choi In-gyu, Seoul City Design Policy Officer, is announcing the promotion plan at the 'Design Seoul 2.0' press briefing held at Seoul City Hall on the 20th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 20th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held a press briefing at City Hall and announced the 'Design Seoul 2.0 Project Promotion Plan' to create a 'Joyful and Vibrant City Seoul.' Mayor Oh Se-hoon previously led the 'Design Seoul 1.0 Project' in 2006 during his first term, which emphasized a human, culture, and content-centered Soft Seoul. During the implementation of Design Seoul 1.0, the city developed and established designs for various standardized public facilities now familiar to residents, such as street vending stands, benches, sidewalk blocks, trash bins, as well as transportation facilities like subway canopies and bus stops.

Choi In-gyu, Seoul’s Design Policy Officer, stated, "While continuing the philosophy of Design Seoul 1.0, we will establish Seoul’s design identity that meets global standards and lead Seoul to become a design city with top 5 global urban competitiveness." To this end, Seoul plans to set five major design principles?'Empathy, Inclusion, Contribution, Recovery, and Sustainability'?and promote 55 projects.

Creating a Three-Dimensional Skyline with Guidelines for Each Landscape

To create distinctive landscapes that embody Seoul’s identity, the city will prepare strategic plans for seven major landscape resources: natural green spaces, waterfronts, historical and cultural sites, urban areas, nighttime scenery, city entrances, and outdoor advertisements. In alignment with the 2040 Seoul Urban Master Plan, Seoul will establish landscape guidelines reflecting changes in height management policies to draw a three-dimensional skyline characterized by rhythm, openness, and visual corridors. The design will integrate horizontal, vertical, and spatial elements, and implement the '3 Have, 5 None (3有5無)' policy, which eliminates illegal buildings, street stalls, signboards, advertisements, and parking. Through light festivals such as Seoul Light at Gwanghwamun and DDP, the city will also strengthen urban nighttime tourism content and develop the Ulsaek color scheme and Seoul Typeface 2.0 version.

Multi-Generational Playgrounds for All Ages to Enjoy Together

While previous public design projects targeted life-stage-specific groups such as children, youth, middle-aged, and seniors, future facilities and spaces will be developed to embrace diverse generations and alleviate social conflicts. First, a multi-generational playground design that local residents of all ages and genders can enjoy will be created. A pilot project in 2024 will develop excellent models and guidelines. In the era of 15 million companion animals, from 2024, public spaces and facilities will be redesigned to enable sustainable coexistence among pet owners, non-pet owners, companion animals, and people. By 2027, seven major public art landmarks will be established in urban spaces so that anyone can easily encounter art in daily life. Universal design will be applied to Seoul’s 67 mountains and newly built public restrooms, ensuring accessibility regardless of gender, age, or disability.

Choi In-gyu, Seoul City Design Policy Officer, is announcing the promotion plan at the 'Design Seoul 2.0' press briefing held at Seoul City Hall on the 20th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Introducing 'Design 2.0' in All Administrative Areas Including Safety, Health, and Economy

Additionally, Seoul aims to apply design perspectives to all administrative areas by strengthening design cooperation between the city and autonomous districts to spread proven effective lifestyle design types. Design exchanges will be actively promoted to serve as a platform supporting corporate and university socio-environmental activities. Furthermore, Seoul will collaborate in design and media fields with the Busan Expo, Suncheonman National Garden Expo, and domestic UNESCO Creative Cities, enhancing design exchanges.

To make Seoul a safer city, standard, disaster prevention, and spatial safety designs will be continuously expanded. For the physical and mental health of Seoul citizens, Seoul-style active design will be developed, and spaces for those with limited mobility will be created. Active design is an urban architectural guideline started in New York to address obesity.

Seoul will also focus on sustainable design that benefits the environment and economy. ESG programs will be implemented through corporate and public design, and design elements will be added to neighborhood commercial districts to revitalize the local economy. To foster the Seoul design industry ecosystem, networks will be formed, and stepwise support (starting-making-marketing) along with ongoing support (consulting, education) will be provided to enhance the competitiveness of Seoul’s small and medium enterprises.

Policy Officer Choi said, “We intend to realize the city administration’s core principles of companionship and charm as a special city through design tools tailored to citizens’ perspectives and demands. Beyond the Seoul city government, we will pursue meticulous design administration through continuous co-design processes with autonomous districts and private companies, ensuring that global citizens enjoy Seoul, that vitality overflows everywhere in the city, and that no one is left behind.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.