Seoul City said Monday that it would unveil the design park in the Dongdaemun area this month that will act as a city hub for culture and design.

The Dongdaemun Design Plaza ― 85,000-square-meter structure ― in Dongdaemun, eastern Seoul, consists of five halls with 15 rooms. It will host cultural events such as concerts and exhibitions along with conferences from March 21, officials said. The design park will be open 24 hours a day.

While various events will be held in the daytime, some events such as concerts, fashions shows and movie festivals will be held at night at night. For public safety, officials said the plaza would operate five security offices and a 24-hour information desk.

The DDP, designed by Iraq-born British architect Zaha Hadid, is the first public project in Korea to use a new three-dimensional digital construction approach to ensure design and construction quality. The free-flowing curves of the exterior were made using 45,133 aluminum cladding panels.

Initiated by former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in 2007, the project faced a delay under the incumbent city government after some historical artifacts were found at the site. Before the project began, the area was home to the country’s first sports stadium.

The opening of the park will be marked by Seoul Fashion Week and special exhibitions, including Hadid’s exhibition, “360 degrees.” A showcase of the most prized works from Gansong Art Museum’s collection of traditional Korean art will also highlight the opening.

The basic entrance fee is 8,000 won ($7) but may be cheaper depending on exhibition discounts. Admission to the outdoor parks and the design lab, which displays novice designers’ work, will be free.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)