Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
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Top ways to experience Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Jung-gu
How to get there
- Dongdaemun History & Culture Park • 3 min walk
- Dongdaemun • 6 min walk
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3,209 within 3 miles
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838 within 6 miles
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4.0
2,238 reviews
Excellent
987
Very good
863
Average
338
Poor
41
Terrible
9
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Culinary-Consultants
Ferrara, Italy3,745 contributions
Jan 2020
There is very little I can tell you about this outstanding and gorgeous piece of engineering and architecture. Designed by world renowned architect, Zaha Hadid who is an Iraqi/British citizen..
The place has conveniently allocated metro entrances beneath the structure. I think 3 to be precise. Before you get to the building there is a mayor plaza and a walking street/ramp that leads you to the heart of it. The entrance is beneath the full structure.
The DDP of its name means: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) has the meaning of 'Dream, Design and Play' as far as I was informed. The place is also famous and renowned for it has staged diverse cultural events including exhibitions, fashion shows, product launch shows, forums and conferences.
DDP's exterior features over 40,000 aluminum panels, none of which are the same. As I mentioned before the plaza is home to various exhibition spaces, design museum, sky lounge, rest area and a souvenir shop.
Is really a beauty of Art, and Architecture as well as Technology. We recommend it for a casual visit, to attend an event or if you are all of the above; artist, architect or engineer. You'll be mesmerized.
The place has conveniently allocated metro entrances beneath the structure. I think 3 to be precise. Before you get to the building there is a mayor plaza and a walking street/ramp that leads you to the heart of it. The entrance is beneath the full structure.
The DDP of its name means: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) has the meaning of 'Dream, Design and Play' as far as I was informed. The place is also famous and renowned for it has staged diverse cultural events including exhibitions, fashion shows, product launch shows, forums and conferences.
DDP's exterior features over 40,000 aluminum panels, none of which are the same. As I mentioned before the plaza is home to various exhibition spaces, design museum, sky lounge, rest area and a souvenir shop.
Is really a beauty of Art, and Architecture as well as Technology. We recommend it for a casual visit, to attend an event or if you are all of the above; artist, architect or engineer. You'll be mesmerized.
Written 29 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndrianiBg
London, UK86 contributions
Dec 2019
Zaha Hadid’s Dongdaemun Design Park &Plaza is the highlight of my trip to South Korea. We arrived in the evening and there was a performance with music and high tech projections on the walls of the building. We really felt like being in the center of arts and technology! Breathtaking ! Strongly recommend!
Written 7 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GlobetrotterJ16
Seoul, South Korea2,009 contributions
Jul 2020
DDP is Zaha Hadid design and definitely the icon of Dongdaemun. There are a couple of subway stations that stop directly underneath or nearby, hence easy to get to. The Plaza overall is quite large in size, with shops, exhibitions and art installations. There are leaderboards with maps in many locations hence easy to find your way around. Nearby DDP are underground shopping, night markets, Dongdaemum Gate, a couple fo hotels and plenty of shops and restaurants. Dongdaemun and DDP are must visit sights when in Seoul.
Written 19 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alex H
Port St. Mary, UK2,592 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
This plaza is a really cool architectural design and is situated quite handily by a metro stop. There are many shops and restaurants. We visited during the day, snapped a few photos and realised that was pretty much all you could do here unless you wanted to shop, which we weren’t fussed about. It’s worthwhile visiting to get a glimpse of the building itself, and I imagine it looks better in the evening than in the daytime.
Written 9 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heng
Singapore, Singapore5,206 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
The design of this place will not look alien in the set of Star Trek. Personally I tend towards the belief that architecture is best enjoyed when there is a human scale to it, this is one such cases where although the building belongs to the grand scale, the organic shape lends a certain human-ness such that one starts to see its parallel to nature and the architecture recedes and nature comes forth.
The way to enjoy this building is to visit twice. Once during the day for you to appreciate the form and once more during the night to see the interaction of the lighting against its organic forms.
The way to enjoy this building is to visit twice. Once during the day for you to appreciate the form and once more during the night to see the interaction of the lighting against its organic forms.
Written 17 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Meow Leng
Melaka, Malaysia86 contributions
Oct 2019
Nothing much here but nice walk around. It surroundings by few shopping complex which offering various types of things. There is food truck (night market) and performances during weekend if not mistaken. Please check before you go.
Written 11 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolina
Tucson, AZ580 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
I wanted to se the DDP at night and it was amazing. It has several artistic statues, a musical director with musicians, little people hanging from the walls and lights that changed within the structure. It has a kakao store and also a mall underneath. The garden with electronic roses was beautiful too.
Written 28 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura L
Baltimore, MD191 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
No one is doubting the impressive exterior architecture and shape of the building, it’s very unique. A lot of thought was put into the landscaping and the exterior hang out spaces - a great place to hang out. The insides though…they were stark, confusingly laid out, and it didn’t seem like much thought was given to them at all. There is a food court area in one bit that was largely chain restaurants, and a ton of empty office space. The big draw at the time of visit seemed to be a Sanrio pop up, so maybe there are some regular and interesting pop up events. Definitely worth walking around, but I wouldn’t expect to actually “do” much here.
Written 26 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sissi Silk
Clamart, France97 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
It's a completely incredible and gigantic structure that you absolutely must see when you're in Seoul, especially as the neighborhood is super nice and there are lots of things to see and do. in the DDP there are sometimes exhibitions unfortunately when I was there I didn't find any, there was only Hello Kitty's birthday which had paid access. there is a children's playground at the top, and a design store with cool things, but what's worth it is of course the architecture! then you would have to have a drone and take magnificent photos with a little height. At the City walk trail we have a magnificent view of a gate and at the same time of the green roof of the DDP. I also found on the ground floor a space with equipment that allows you to test your scalp and your skin, we give you samples and of course the objective is to make you buy the products, that being said, the test is very interesting to do in a very particular decorative design environment. Also worth seeing at night, personally I didn't have time to linger there, but like everything in Seoul, you have to do day and night!
Written 12 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3DMatrix
London, UK441 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
The Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) was a beautiful structure that we kept noticing in the distance when walking or taking note when driving past throughout our stay in Seoul. I made a note to find out what it was and to visit it at some point before we left Seoul. Moreso given that it was a 20 minute walk from our hotel (The Ambassador Pullman, Seoul). It was a pleasant bonus to find out it was a highly regarded design that was definitely worth visiting (I love architecture).
DDP is undeniably a striking marvel of architectural design with its unique organic shape; a Zaha Hadid staple; and exterior spaces showcasing thought and creativity. The structure itself is a visual edifice and a must-visit for architecture enthusiasts and or those with an appreciation for artistic design.
However, the interior doesn’t quite live up to the grandeur of its exterior in my opinion. The Design Lab offers some interactive activities and exhibitions, and the adjacent museum is worth exploring for those with time to spare. There is an obligatory food court consisting of brand name restaurants. Generally speaking, I got the impression of underutilization and I couldn’t help but feel that more could be done to maximize the potential of the indoor space.
DDP is centrally located, easily accessible and sits above a metro station.
I'd say visiting DDP is more about appreciating the building and atmosphere than engaging in extensive activities. It’s ideal for picture taking and such photos, especially at night when one imagines that great lighting highlights the futuristic design.
In summary, the DDP is definitely worth visiting for design aficionados but it's best to manage expectations—while the structure itself is stunning, the indoor experience might leave you wanting more.
DDP is undeniably a striking marvel of architectural design with its unique organic shape; a Zaha Hadid staple; and exterior spaces showcasing thought and creativity. The structure itself is a visual edifice and a must-visit for architecture enthusiasts and or those with an appreciation for artistic design.
However, the interior doesn’t quite live up to the grandeur of its exterior in my opinion. The Design Lab offers some interactive activities and exhibitions, and the adjacent museum is worth exploring for those with time to spare. There is an obligatory food court consisting of brand name restaurants. Generally speaking, I got the impression of underutilization and I couldn’t help but feel that more could be done to maximize the potential of the indoor space.
DDP is centrally located, easily accessible and sits above a metro station.
I'd say visiting DDP is more about appreciating the building and atmosphere than engaging in extensive activities. It’s ideal for picture taking and such photos, especially at night when one imagines that great lighting highlights the futuristic design.
In summary, the DDP is definitely worth visiting for design aficionados but it's best to manage expectations—while the structure itself is stunning, the indoor experience might leave you wanting more.
Written 10 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Там разные залы, где-то бесплатно, где-то по пригласительным, мы так на выставку ходили по пригласительным , которые дали в хостеле.
Written 30 August 2019
Hello,may I know if DDP plaza-outside interior of the building can still be visited past midnight & does the building still lights up then?
Written 14 October 2018
Yes the building still lights up, which is fantastic - But I'm not sure what time ends the visiting hours.
Written 14 October 2018
How do I get there using public transport
Written 22 May 2016
Take Seoul metro line no 2, no 4 or no 5. Get off at "Dongdaemum History & Culture Park" station, Exit no 1., just few minute walk.
Written 23 May 2016
Hi ! I was reading your review about DDP at night. I am planning to take some photography tour around DDP at night but in their website it is stated that they closed at 7pm.
Do you know if we still can go around the exterior and also the LED rose garden after 7pm ? Thanks :)
Written 13 September 2015
Yes, you can do it. The places inside are close, some of the restaurants are open I think until 8 pm.
Written 15 September 2015
Комплекс работает круглосуточно, но некоторые экспозиции имеют отдельный график работы.
Written 4 July 2015
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