Abstract
The Seoul Woods Design Competition in 2003 was one of the most remarkable events within the field of landscape architecture in Korea since the Yeo-Ui Do Square Park Design Competition in the mid 1990s. This study examines the overall procedure, evaluations and competition guidelines for the Seoul Forest Park Design Competition and identifies the implications and issues related to Korean landscape architecture. In addition this study analyzes the design concepts, strategies and spatial composition, and programs of five selected design worts including the best awarded work. This study also examines key features and issues from the five selected design works. Finally, this study examines a new trend of landscape design in Korea, which can be observed at the Seoul Forest Park Design Competition. In this study, it is argued that the Seoul Forest Park Design Competition had significant implications for landscape architecture in Korea. Firstly, the Seoul Forest Park Design Competition was the greatest project in Korea in terms of its size. Therefore, it shows us an enhanced status of Korean landscape architecture. Secondly, the Seoul Forest Park Design Competition provided a good opportunity to redefine the concept of 'park' in Korean modern society. Thirdly, through the Seoul Forest Park Design Competition, we can observe a dramatic change and developments in Korean landscape design since the 1990s, as well as the present status of landscape design competitions in Korea. And this study identifies an emphasis of a program in design, an evolution in ecological approach an diminishment in concern of Korean tradition, and a change in design methods and media, which are some aspects of Korean contemporary landscape design observed at the Seoul Forest Park Design Competition.
