Mayor introduces Seoul's flashy new urban pimple

After four years of construction and preparation, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), a controversial building, was opened to the public in central Seoul, Friday. Designed by superstar architect Zaha Hadid, the 484 billion won (about $448 million) building combines fashion design centers, showrooms, galleries, conference facilities and shops. Architects have been critical of Hadid's design, claiming that the building's otherworldly form does not mesh well with its surroundings. / Yonhap

In the building's opening ceremony on Friday, Seoul Mayor lightheartedly compared the Dongdaemun Design Plaza to a "spaceship." / Yonhap

A model strolls down the runway during the first day of Seoul Fashion Week at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza on Friday. / Yonhap

By Kim Tong-hyung

Ending years of anticipation, the controversial Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) was unveiled to the public in central Seoul on Friday amid continuing debate about whether the new building is an architectural marvel or urban pimple.

Designed by superstar architect Zaha Hadid, the 484 billion won (about $448 million) project combines fashion design centers, show rooms, galleries, conference facilities and shops in the heart of the Dongdaemun business district.

DDP opened as the host of a variety of cultural events, including Seoul Fashion Week and an exhibition featuring some of the most valuable works in traditional Korean art.

The building and its surrounding park will be open 24 hours a day to attend to the large number of nighttime visitors who frequent the Dongdaemun area.

The aluminum-covered, seven-story building, claimed as the world's largest asymmetrical free form structure, occupies more than 25,000 square meters of land, which is roughly the size of 3.5 football grounds.

Architects have been critical of Hadid's design, which resembles an enormous metal skull amidst the squalor of one of the city's oldest commercial districts, accusing her of disregarding the city's historical context and fabric.

While Seoul's urban landscape went through some major adjustments over the past 20 years, the incoherence and lack of visual cohesion between architecture has been constant. Hadid's critics believe that the DDP is the latest addition to that list.

In a meeting with the culture editors of newspapers and broadcasters on Tuesday, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon admitted he, too, thought the DDP looks unpleasant in its surroundings. At the building's opening ceremony on Friday, Park lightheartedly compared the DDP to a "spaceship'' and touted its potential as a destination for business and leisure.

"Dongdaemun is a historic place that holds the memories of the demise of a kingdom, the days of the colonial era, the struggles to overcome the destruction of war and rapid modernization. We hope that the 'DDP spaceship' will prove to be the start of new history,'' Park said.

"The DDP was a large project that required a 500 billion won investment. We hope that the DDP will make up for that by taking hold as the hub of Seoul's creative industry. We believe that the jobs created by the DDP and the industrial activity it inspires will be worth 13 trillion won over the next 20 years.''

Seoul Fashion Week started its a six-day run at DDP, featuring the fall-winter season creations of famous local designers such as Lie Sang-bong, Kang Dong-jun and Gee Chun-hee.

DDP's Design Museum will display some of the most prized works from the Gansong Art Museum's collection of traditional art, including the "Haerye,'' a commentary on "Hunminjeongeum," the original promulgation of the Korean alphabet "Hangul," produced under King Sejong of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910).

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