The Seoul Design Foundation (SDF), under the leadership of CEO Kang Heui Cha, has announced that Seoul has been selected to host the World Design Congress 2027 of the World Design Organization (WDO). The event will also mark the 70th anniversary of WDO. This decision further affirms Seoul’s prominent role within the international design network, following the city’s designation as World Design Capital (WDC) in 2010.

Since being named WDC, Seoul has integrated design thinking into urban policy, industrial strategies and everyday life. At the heart of this transformation is the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), which has served as a symbol of the city’s design-driven development for the past 15 years.

World Design Congress 2027 – “Design for Sustainable Life”

The World Design Congress 2027 is scheduled to take place in September 2027 in Seoul under the theme “Design for Sustainable Life”, highlighting two key directions: “Togetherness” and “Urban Charm.”

The Congress will feature a wide range of activities, including research and education forums, policy conferences, large-scale design exhibitions, networking programmes and satellite events across the city. DDP will serve as the central venue, while numerous activities will be distributed throughout Seoul, creating a citywide design festival.

Thomas Garvey, President of WDO, commented: “DDP is an ideal venue to welcome international delegates. The theme ‘Design for Sustainable Life’ provides a timely platform to continue global dialogue on how design can contribute to addressing current and future sustainable development challenges.”

Scale and economic–cultural impact

Approximately 2,000 delegates are expected to attend the Congress, including representatives from 215 WDO member organisations across 39 countries, design schools, designers and the general public. The event is projected to generate around 7 billion won in economic impact through cultural tourism, accommodation and transportation. It will also provide an opportunity for K-Design to expand its international influence through professional exchange and collaboration.

Since the WDC 2010 designation, Seoul’s city brand value has reached 409 trillion won, an increase of 22 trillion won compared to the previous year, with the WDC title alone contributing approximately 890 billion won. This milestone marked Seoul’s shift from a “growth-oriented” city to a “design-oriented” city, improving quality of life, advancing public design innovation and strengthening urban competitiveness. The World Design Congress 2027 is expected to further reinforce the city’s brand, policy direction, international cooperation capacity and design infrastructure.

CEO Kang Heui Cha emphasised: “Seoul successfully hosted WDC 2010 and now possesses a strong design ecosystem centred on DDP. Hosting the World Design Congress will enable Seoul to lead global design discourse and propose new solutions for sustainable development and social innovation.”

Seoul’s sustainable design ecosystem

SDF continues to develop Seoul’s sustainable design ecosystem through key hubs such as DDP, the Seoul Upcycling Plaza—the world’s largest platform dedicated to recycled design—and the Seoul Design Startup Center, which supports young entrepreneurs in the design sector.

Building on more than a decade of experience in driving urban innovation through design, Seoul and SDF have officially secured the right to host the World Design Congress 2027.

About the World Design Organization (WDO)

WDO is an international non-governmental organisation in the field of industrial design, headquartered in Montreal, Canada. The organisation promotes the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through design-led initiatives.