Visitors can watch the autumn sunset from the rooftop of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul while listening to live music or meditating. Fridays feature performances against the setting sun, while Saturdays offer meditation guided by the sound of singing bowls, giving participants a slower pace in the heart of the city.
The Seoul Design Foundation said on the 12th that it will run the rooftop special program "Sunset Tour" at DDP in Seoul's Jung-gu every Friday and Saturday for six weeks, from the 16th of this month through Nov. 21. The tour, first launched last year, adds live performances and meditation sessions this year. Across 12 sessions, participants walk along DDP's curved roof to take in views of central Seoul and the sunset.
On Fridays, singer-songwriters and a flutist perform live on the rooftop. Singer-songwriters Moon Sang-hee and Qrim and flutist Lee Seul-gi will take the stage on different dates. The performances will also be streamed live on a large screen at DDP's Eoullim Square so that general visitors can watch.
Saturdays feature a singing bowl meditation program. Singing bowls are bowl-shaped instruments played by striking or rubbing them to produce resonant tones, allowing participants to steady their breathing and rest while focusing on the sound.
Each tour runs 90 minutes, starting at 4:30 p.m. in October and 4 p.m. in November. Guidance is provided in both Korean and English, so foreign tourists can join. Participation costs 50,000 won per person, with advance booking available on the DDP website. If seats remain, on-site registration opens 20 minutes before the start.
"The DDP tour is a case of extending architectural value into cultural value for citizens," said Cha Kang-hee, CEO of the Seoul Design Foundation. "DDP will become a destination that tourists from home and abroad enjoy visiting."
