26 Feb 2011, Posted by Matt in ALL DESTINATIONS,Art & Culture,Seoul,Video, 0 Comments
Seoul’s Digital Media City
Although Seoul is well known for its 600-year role as the capital of Korea, it’s also known as a relentlessly modern city of innovative technology. One of the best recent examples of this is the Digital Media City (DMC), a state-of-the-art digital media entertainment cluster built on 570,000 square meters of land in northwestern Seoul. Launched by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2002, the DMC was envisioned as a way to expand Korea’s advanced IT, human resources and entertainment industries.
Walking around the area today, the modern architecture and wide central boulevard distinguish the area from many parts of northern Seoul. For me, the DMC’s architectural standout is the Digital Pavilion Nurikkum Square. For the cultural experience, just next-door is the Korea Cultural Contents Center, which is home to a museum looking into the history of Korean film, from outsiders’ observations of Korea at the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries, to the blockbuster films of the global Korean Wave phenomenon. Another great destination on a DMC tour is the Digital Media City Gallery, where rotating exhibits by design students and hands-on installations featuring innovative technologies of tomorrow are on display.
As of August 2010, about 50% of construction was completed. Some 548 companies with over 24,000 employees have already moved in. And true to the DMC’s mission, the five key business areas are broadcasting, film, games, software and IT. As of September 2010, DMC tenants had generated $11 billion dollars in revenue.
What’s also remarkable about the DMC is how the real estate has evolved over recent decades. For example, once called “Duck Island,” the area now occupied by the DMC was beloved as a pristine natural site along the Hangang River. Sadly, that all changed when it became one of Korea’s largest landfills. Over 15 years, some 92 million tons of waste were dumped there. Thankfully, the area was reborn again when, in 1993 the landfill was closed and covered, and one of Seoul’s largest networks of parks was created.
These parks, along with the DMC form an important part of what’s being called the new Sangam Millennium City. Not surprisingly, the area – with its unique professional and recreational opportunities – now boasts the third-highest apartment prices in Seoul.
The DMC project that’s incited the most excitement seems to be Seoul Lite, the name of a 133-story landmark tower to be completed by 2015. At a total height of 640 meters, the Seoul Lite tower will be the world’s second tallest skyscraper. If all goes as planned, the behemoth will be filled with an enormous aquarium, restaurants, department stores, offices, a Ritz Carlton hotel, apartments and a 133rd floor observation room. Imagine the view from the top, which will penetrate deep into even North Korea!
Finally, one of my favorite parts of the DMC is a triangle-shaped park on the far western end that’s dominated by a 23-meter high media structure called the “Millennium Eye.” The fantastic piece of art is built of 140 mirrored steel spheres that reflect their surroundings.
Digital Media City (DMC) can be reached via Digital Media City Station on Seoul Metro Line 6 and the Gyeonghui Line (exit #3).
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A version of this post appeared on KBS World Radio on December 1, 2010.
