Dongdaemun sees overseas tourist spending surge during fall festival

Sep 28, 2026

Over 11 radiant nights this month, more than 700,000 people converged on Seoul’s aluminum-sheathed Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) for Seoul Light DDP, a high-tech projection that flooded the area with media art after dark. The Seoul Design Foundation said Monday that 700,512 people visited DDP from Sept. 3-13, an average of 63,683 visitors per day. Visitors filled DDP’s Eoullim Square and Miraero Bridge during evening media art shows, with food, shopping and entertainment offerings encouraging them to stay in the area after performances. Subway traffic at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station rose 8.34 percent during the festival, reaching 961,725 boardings and exits compared with 887,702 during the same period in August. Evening traffic from 6 p.m. to midnight increased 15.1 percent, while traffic between 7 pm and 10 p.m. rose 21.9 percent, with visitors peaking around 8 p.m. The foundation said DDP Design Store recorded more than double its previous month’s sales during the festival. A satisfaction survey of 2,122 visitors found that 94.7 percent were satisfied or very satisfied

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