Seoul Design
International Forum
서울디자인국제포럼

SDIF 2025 Theme Video Short Version

Seoul Design International Forum 2025 – Short version of the theme video. Seoul Design International Forum is a global platform to share the power of design that transforms cities and lives. Your interest and participation are the driving force that leads Seoul to become an even more attractive global design city. In the upcoming SDIF 2026, we will continue the in-depth discussions on sustainability, creative collaboration, and the quality of life.

Seoul Design International Forum 2025✨: Attractive City of Seoul - Designing a Better Global Life (Event Information)

Hello! Here’s some exciting news for those interested in design, cities, and a sustainable future. The Seoul Design International Forum 2025 will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19, 2025, in the Multipurpose Hall, 8th floor of Seoul City Hall. This forum will be a gathering to share visions and strategies for leading Seoul as a world-class design city, bringing together renowned speakers and experts from Korea and abroad. We’re truly looking forward to it!

Where to go this September? Let’s explore the 2025 Seoul Design International Forum! (Program & Speaker Information / Pre-registration Link)

Hello, this is Sseugo! Today, I’d like to introduce you to the 2025 Seoul Design International Forum. Just like I always check the table of contents before diving into a book, I prefer to glance through the overview before joining an event. So, as one of the official supporters of the 2025 Seoul Design International Forum, I’ve put together all the key information for you!

Design Next: Rewriting the Language of Cities, Seoul Design International Forum 2025

Hello! I’m Nayoung Kwak, supporter of the Seoul Design International Forum 2025! The urban landscape changes with time, but Seoul is leading this transformation through design. From small street signs to large-scale urban spaces, and even to the way people live, design has become more than just an aesthetic element — it is the language of the city and the key to shaping the future.

Highlight of September: Seoul Design International Forum 2025 – Pre-Registration Now Open!

Hello! I’m Lia, supporter of the Seoul Design International Forum 2025. This September, the 6th Seoul Design International Forum (SDIF 2025) will be held, bringing together experts from Korea and abroad, along with diverse stakeholders, to discuss creative visions and design blueprints for a sustainable Seoul and enhanced urban competitiveness.

[Invitation] Invitation from Speaker, Lorenzo IMBESI

Lorenzo Imbesi, a speaker at the Seoul Design International Forum 2025, is a Professor at Sapienza University of Rome and President of the Cumulus Association, the leading global network of design education. In his presentation, he will explore how design education networks foster collaboration and drive innovation across global cities. He will highlight the evolution of design from an individual practice to a collective cultural infrastructure, sharing Italian examples of participatory design that bridge tradition and innovation.

[Invitation] Invitation from Keynote Speaker, Helle SØHOLT

This is a special invitation message from Helle Søholt, keynote speaker of the Seoul Design International Forum 2025. As the CEO and Founding Partner of Gehl, she will share her perspectives on the future of Seoul and global cities through the lens of design. A world-renowned urban design expert who has led the transformation toward people-centered cities, Helle Søholt delivers a warm greeting and message as the keynote speaker of the Forum.

Monthly <Design> Sep Issue. The Charm of Cities Told by Designers: SDIF 2025

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has made continuous efforts to build a city where design becomes a standard for everyday life. Starting with “Design Seoul 1.0” in 2009, the city expanded its strategies through “Design Seoul 2.0” and various design policies. Now, in 2025, Seoul presents a new vision for enhancing the city’s global appeal and charm through the theme “Attractive City of Seoul: Designing a Better Global Life.”

Pre-Registration is now open!

Pre-Registration for Seoul Design International Forum 2025 is now open!

Visiting “Maeum Maru,” a Healing Space for Single-Person Households

Hello! We are the 2025 Seoul Design International Forum Supporters. This time, I’d like to share my visit to a public design facility in Seoul and introduce it to you. Today, in relation to Seoul’s design policy, I’ll be introducing the Dongdaemun-gu Family Center. The City of Seoul has been making various efforts through public design to improve citizens’ quality of life and strengthen the identity of local communities. In particular, the Dongdaemun-gu Family Center is an important facility operated as part of such policies.

Not Just a Smoking Booth? Seoul's Urban Public Design in Action at Cheongnyangni Station

Hello! I’m Yerim Ko, a supporter of the 2025 Seoul Design International Forum. Today, I’d like to share my visit to the newly installed Seoul-style smoking booth near Cheongnyangni Station. A smoking booth? Isn’t that just a place to smoke? Not at all! This is a thoughtfully designed space that reflects Seoul City’s efforts to address urban issues through design.

A Playground in the Heart of the City? Welcome to Seongsu 1 Play Park!

Hello! I'm Ssugo, and I’m excited to be part of the 2025 Seoul Design International Forum as a supporter. Today, I’ll be introducing a spot I recently explored—Seongsu 1 Play Park! Also known as Seongsu 1-ga Children’s Park, it’s just an 11-minute walk from Exit 2 of Seoul Forest Station, or you can take Bus 2224 from Exit 1 of Seongsu Station.

You Won’t Believe This Is in Seoul, Haneulhaneul & Welcome Pavilion

Hello! I’m Lia, and I’ve just joined as a supporter for the 2025 Seoul Design International Forum! Have you ever thought about how public design impacts our daily lives? In fact, public design goes far beyond simply creating a visually pleasing city. It plays a vital role in improving quality of life, strengthening community safety, and revitalizing local economies and culture.

Gray Construction Sites, Out! 'Attractive Fences' That Turn Seoul into an Open-Air Gallery

Hello! This is Nayoung Kwak, supporter of the 2025 Seoul Design International Forum! Have you ever walked past a construction site in Seoul and suddenly been drawn in by a beautifully designed barricade? The surprising star behind this transformation of dull and drab construction sites is Seoul’s very own “Attractive Fences”! Today, let’s explore what these Attractive Fences are, how they bring positive change to urban life, and where you can find these hidden design gems across the city.

Nature-Inspired Welcome Pavilion Debuts at Boramae Park for the Seoul International Garden Show

- The Welcome Pavilion, designed as a symbolic icon of the Seoul International Garden Show, now marks the main entrance of Boramae Park. - It functions as a central hub that integrates rest areas, exhibitions, and interactive experiences, and will later serve as a participatory public space. - Together with the “Haneul-Haneul” rest installation, it is expected to enhance the overall appeal of the Garden Show to citizens. - Starting this year, a newly designed Pavilion will be introduced annually as a signature feature of the Garden Show.

Seoul Unveils Three Urban-Friendly Smoking Booth Designs Centered on Public Consideration

- The Seoul Metropolitan Government has unveiled three “Seoul-style Smoking Booth” designs to address social conflict and visual disorder caused by unregulated smoking in urban areas. - The booths are available in three types—Open, Semi-Open, and Enclosed—based on citizen feedback and expert consultation, balancing public utility and functional efficiency. - A pilot installation will begin on April 26 at Cheongnyangni Station Square, with official design guidelines to be distributed in May for adoption by local districts and private facilities. - This initiative aims to safeguard public health, enhance the city's aesthetic quality, and improve the overall street environment through thoughtful public design.

Seoul to Promote Nationwide Collaboration with Metropolitan Governments through Design

- Seoul to provide its design development expertise and outputs to metropolitan governments across Korea - Support initiatives include matching design advisory groups, participation in development processes, provision of iF Design Award-winning "Fun Design Chairs," and joint project development - Applications open until Friday, May 16th, 2025 - Initiative aims to promote a governance model for the social co-utilization of Seoul’s design assets

Seoul Expands Its "Design Companionship" Initiative to Other Metropolitan Cities

- On March 27th (Thursday), Seoul signed an agreement with Busan, launching intercity collaboration through the "Design Seoul" initiative. - The two cities will share accumulated design assets, capabilities, and policies to seek solutions to urban challenges through design. -A joint workshop will be held in Busan from March 27th to 28th, featuring expert presentations, keynote lectures, and participation by public officials. - "Through continued exchange and cooperation with Busan, we will lead innovation in urban design," Seoul city officials stated.