The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in partnership with the Korea Craft and Design Foundation, is hosting the fourth annual Public Design Festival from October 28 through November 2 at 206 venues across South Korea. This year's festival operates under the theme "Coexistence: Public Design for the Future," emphasizing how thoughtful design can address pressing social issues including aging populations, declining birth rates, and climate change while promoting intergenerational harmony.
The festival officially kicked off with an opening ceremony on October 24 at Cociety, a creator space located in Seoul's Seongdong-gu District. During this ceremony, organizers recognized the 14 winners of the annual Korea Public Design Awards, with the prestigious Presidential Award going to Seoul's Seocho-gu District. The district earned this top honor for its innovative public service initiative launched in 2022, which created designated spaces and design solutions to promote peaceful coexistence between smokers and non-smokers in public areas.
The festival's scope extends far beyond Seoul, encompassing 206 "public design hubs" throughout the country. Among these venues, 33 locations are specifically hosting interactive events and programs that allow residents to directly experience and engage with various public design concepts. These hands-on experiences aim to demonstrate how design thinking can be applied to everyday challenges faced by communities across the nation.
Gwangju has been designated as this year's featured city for regional cooperation, showcasing ambitious design projects that reflect the city's unique cultural identity. Notable initiatives include the Gwangju Folly project and the Star Night Museum, both of which demonstrate how public design can celebrate local heritage while addressing contemporary needs. These projects serve as models for other cities looking to integrate cultural preservation with modern urban planning.
To complement the practical demonstrations and exhibitions, the National Asian Culture Center hosted a high-level discussion on October 28 titled "Public Design for Tomorrow." This symposium brought together domestic and international experts to share insights, best practices, and future visions for how public design can continue evolving to meet society's changing needs. The dialogue covered topics ranging from sustainable urban development to inclusive design principles that consider diverse community needs.
The festival represents a growing recognition in South Korea that design extends far beyond aesthetics to encompass social responsibility and problem-solving. By showcasing successful projects and fostering collaboration between government agencies, design professionals, and local communities, the event aims to inspire broader adoption of design-thinking approaches to public policy and urban planning. Additional information about festival events, participating venues, and featured projects is available on the official website at festival.publicdesign.kr.
