'Nae Chingu Seoul-gwan' takes gold at Frame Awards 2026 exhibition category

Space lets visitors explore Seoul's present and future through immersive displays

Nae Chingu Seoul-gwan, an immersive exhibition space run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]
Nae Chingu Seoul-gwan, an immersive exhibition space run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]

Nae Chingu Seoul-gwan, an immersive visitor exhibition space in the Seoul Gallery beneath Seoul City Hall, has won the gold rating in the exhibition category at the Frame Awards 2026.

The Frame Awards is a global spatial and product design competition organized by Frame Magazine, a prominent Dutch interior design publication. The awards recognize the year's best spaces across 31 categories, including architecture, interior design and exhibitions.

Nae Chingu Seoul-gwan was named one of six finalists for exhibition of the year. On Wednesday, it received the gold rating following the final round of judging.

The space opened Feb. 5 and serves as an immersive exhibition venue introducing Seoul's current state, future vision and urban policies to residents and visitors from home and abroad.

A scale model of Seoul rendered at 1-to-1,600 and miniature replicas of major development sites give visitors an at-a-glance look at the city's future and key policies.

A 2-meter-diameter "media sphere" showcases Seoul's global competitiveness and future vision. A Seoul Metropolitan Government official said Nae Chingu Seoul-gwan has drawn about 1 million visitors to date, reflecting strong public interest.

The city plans to run a program called "Seoul Exploration Corps" at the space this month. The program is designed to help participants examine Seoul's urban environment, spaces and policies from fresh perspectives and uncover the city's diverse stories.

Children and families taking part in the exhibition can compare Seoul's spaces and facilities, answer quizzes on the city's history and nature, and learn about its urban characteristics. Following age-appropriate activity sheets, participants can also explore the first and second halls of Nae Chingu Seoul-gwan and document their observations through photos, drawings and writing.

Kim Chang-gyu, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Urban Space Bureau, said the city plans to use the gold rating at the Frame Awards as an opportunity to raise awareness of the space's design value, while expanding public engagement through the Seoul Exploration Corps program to help more people understand and experience the city.


ken@heraldcorp.com