"National Symbolic Area International Competition Draws Attention as It Seeks to Embody the Spirit of the Times"

Administrative City Construction Agency Holds On-Site Briefing for Master Plan Competition

The Administrative City Construction Agency held an on-site briefing session for the National Symbolic Area Master Plan International Competition on the 17th. The event, aimed at designers wishing to participate in the competition, was attended by more than 70 people from 46 companies across 18 teams, including leading domestic and international experts and stakeholders in urban planning, architecture, and landscape design.

The briefing session proceeded in the order of competition guideline presentation, Q&A, and a site visit. Hwang Jaehoon, professor at Chungbuk National University, who serves as the general planner for the Multifunctional Administrative City and chairman of the international competition operations committee, explained the current status of the city's construction, the purpose of the competition, and its key guidelines. Kim Donghyun, a professor at Sejong University and the lead researcher for the design competition management service, provided detailed information on the judging criteria and section-specific guidelines, and answered questions from attendees.

During the site visit, participants toured the National Symbolic Area, directly inspecting the project sites where the Presidential Sejong Office, the National Assembly Sejong Building, and civic spaces will be located, thereby deepening their understanding of the competition.

National Symbolic Area Master Plan International Competition On-Site Briefing Session. Provided by the Administrative City Construction Agency

Attendees inquired about the linkage plan between the Presidential Sejong Office and the National Assembly Sejong Building, the location and layout of the presidential office, transportation network plans, the establishment of park and green space corridors, and necessary functions to be introduced within the project area. According to the Administrative City Construction Agency, participants agreed that the National Symbolic Area should become the central space for national governance in Korea, while also being developed as a symbolic space embodying the spirit and identity of the times.

Entries for this competition will be accepted until November 20. The winning design will be announced in mid-December after a public participation vote and expert evaluation. Choi Hyungwook, Director of the Facility Project Bureau at the Administrative City Construction Agency, stated, "The National Symbolic Area is Korea's new face, which must be created by pooling the wisdom of experts from various fields and the public. We look forward to the active participation and creative ideas of leading urban planning and architecture experts."