'2025 Public Architect' Forum Held for the Future of Daejeon's Premium Public Architecture

Focus on Strategies to Revitalize Design Competitions
with Enhanced Transparency and Professionalism
Awards Presented to Architects Kim Yonggak, Kim Wonki, and Sung Kitaek for Outstanding Contributions

Photo by Daejeon City

Daejeon City held the 2025 Daejeon Metropolitan City Public Architect Forum on December 4 in the city hall seminar room, under the theme "Strategies to Promote Design Competitions for the Future of Daejeon's Premium Public Architecture."

This forum brought together around 60 architecture and urban experts, including public architects, related officials, and Chief Architect Kang Inho, for in-depth discussions on the future of public architecture in Daejeon.

In particular, the forum focused on enhancing the transparency and professionalism of the "design competition" process-a crucial stage that determines the quality and value of public buildings-and on deriving practical strategies for its revitalization.

The keynote lecture was delivered by architect Lee Giok, CEO of Philip Architects & Engineers and long-serving Chief Architect of Paju City, under the title "The Value of Process (From Planning to Completion of Design Competitions)."

Architect Lee Giok shared detailed experiences and know-how from creating a fair and transparent design competition environment in Paju City, offering concrete directions for institutional innovation and highlighting the core values of competitions that Daejeon's chief and public architects, as well as officials, should pursue.

Following the keynote, a heated panel discussion was held, chaired by Kang Inho, Chief Architect of Daejeon City (Emeritus Professor of Architecture at Hannam University), with three public architects participating as panelists. The discussion diagnosed issues with the current architectural design competition system and proposed improvements to realize high-quality public architecture in Daejeon.

Meanwhile, prior to the forum, Yoo Deukwon, Deputy Mayor of Daejeon City for Administrative Affairs, presented "Public Architecture Development Merit" awards to three private experts who have made dedicated contributions to the advancement and enhancement of public architecture in Daejeon.

The awardees were Kim Yonggak (CEO of Kim Yonggak Architects & Engineers), Kim Wonki (CEO of Architect Kim Wonki LAB), and Sung Kitaek (CEO of World A&D Architects & Engineers).

This award aims to recognize the efforts of private experts who have contributed to the development of public architecture, the construction of premium buildings, and the improvement of the urban landscape, while also encouraging continued interest and cooperation in Daejeon's public architecture moving forward.

Yoo Deukwon, Deputy Mayor of Daejeon City
(Photo by Daejeon City)

Yoo Deukwon, Deputy Mayor of Daejeon City for Administrative Affairs, stated, "Public architecture is the face of the city and a key factor in determining the quality of life for citizens," adding, "We will further expand the achievements of the private expert system and bring innovation to design competitions, making Daejeon a distinguished and beautiful city of premium design."

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