Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Tycho Atsma tychoa · CC0

Zaha Hadid's curving aluminium mass, set beside the foundations of the old city wall that were dug up while building it.

DDP looks like something that landed in Dongdaemun: more than forty thousand curved aluminium panels, no two alike, and an interior in which a straight line is hard to find. While excavating the foundations, workers struck the base of Seoul's Joseon-era city wall along with barracks and a water conduit — instead of covering it over, the city kept it and turned it into a heritage park at the building's foot. At night the outer slope is lit with tens of thousands of LED flowers. The Dongdaemun district around it is a wholesale fabric and clothing market that trades until dawn, running on a clock entirely out of step with the rest of the city.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Dongdaemun Design Plaza?

Year-round; best in the evening

How much does it cost to visit Dongdaemun Design Plaza?

Grounds free; exhibitions typically 8,000–15,000 KRW

How long do you need at Dongdaemun Design Plaza?

1.5–2 hours

What are the opening hours of Dongdaemun Design Plaza?

Grounds open 24 hours; exhibition halls 10:00–19:00 (to 21:00 Wed and Fri), closed Mondays

Did you know

Designed by Zaha Hadid and opened in 2014.
The shell is made of more than 45,000 aluminium panels, each a different shape.
Joseon city-wall remains found during construction were preserved as a history park.
The surrounding Dongdaemun wholesale market trades from evening until dawn.

Travel tips

Come in the evening for both the LED field and the Dongdaemun night market.
Indoor exhibitions are ticketed separately; the grounds and roof slope are free.
Dongdaemun History & Culture Park station connects straight into the basement.

Source: https://english.visitseoul.net/attractions/Dongdaemun-Design-Plaza-en/ENP024679

Updated: 2026-08-04