Dongdaemun District in Seoul issued a pre-announcement Thursday for a design competition to develop the former Dongdaemun District Community Center site in Jang-andong into a mixed-use cultural hub for everyday cultural and community life. The district is currently led by acting District Mayor Kim Ki-hyun, who serves as deputy district mayor.
Design competition pre-announcement launched Thursday; full call for entries set for June, with plans for a 700-seat performance hall and multipurpose community space
The original community center, completed in 1989, served residents as a venue for cultural events and gatherings for decades before deteriorating conditions led to its demolition in 2023. Rather than simply rebuilding the old facility, the district decided to create an open public space combining performance, culture, leisure and community functions.
The project site covers the former community center grounds at 356 Jang-andong. Current plans call for a building with 2 below-ground floors and 7 above-ground floors, with a total floor area of approximately 11,730 square meters, anchored by a 700-seat performance hall. The district is targeting a 2029 completion and is advancing the project through phased administrative procedures.
Resident feedback has shaped the project's direction. A 2024 district survey found that 33.7 percent of respondents identified a lack of cultural facilities as the biggest infrastructure shortfall in Dongdaemun — the top concern by a wide margin. Insufficient sports facilities came second at 22.7 percent, followed by a lack of performance venues at 11.9 percent and insufficient outdoor rest areas at 9.2 percent. When asked about the preferred type of performance hall, 66.8 percent of respondents favored a flexible, configurable venue capable of accommodating a variety of performances and events.
Drawing on those findings, the district plans to build a space where residents can do more than watch performances — they will also be able to take part in education, hands-on activities and everyday cultural pursuits. The central goal is a neighborhood cultural facility that naturally fosters intergenerational exchange and community engagement.
Thursday's pre-announcement is a procedural step ahead of the formal competition call, giving specialists and prospective entrants an early look at the competition guidelines, scope of work and jury composition so they can submit feedback. The district has already completed preparatory steps including appointing a public architecture manager, conducting a public architecture review and forming a design competition steering committee. The pre-announcement marks the formal start of the competition process.
After reviewing comments submitted during the pre-announcement period, the district will refine the competition materials and issue the full design competition notice in June. A site briefing, question-and-answer session, submission and jury review will follow, with a winning design to be selected in October and basic and detailed design work to begin immediately after.
The design phase will also examine connectivity with the surrounding area. The district plans to explore pedestrian and rest-space links to Jangpyeong Neighborhood Park, the Jangan Cherry Blossom Road and the Jungnangcheon stream, and will assess the impact of the large-scale public facility on the surrounding neighborhood — including parking, pedestrian flow, noise and disruption to residents during construction.
Eco-friendly elements will be incorporated into the building design. The district is considering zero-energy standards, LED smart lighting, a solar power system and rooftop greening to improve energy efficiency and deliver a sustainable public building.
Plans for operating the facility after completion are also being developed. The district intends to explore running the space as a resident-centered cultural venue in partnership with cultural foundations, local arts organizations, schools and lifestyle hobby clubs, offering a mix of performance, education, hands-on and everyday cultural programs.
"The former Dongdaemun District Community Center site has long been a symbolic space where residents gathered for culture and events," acting District Mayor Kim said. "Through this project, we will develop it into Dongdaemun's signature mixed-use cultural hub — a place where residents can enjoy culture and leisure in their daily lives and where people of all generations can come together."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
