A wheelchair dancer visits the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and the Mapo Cultural Storage, while a British contemporary artist explores Deoksugung Palace and Namsangol Hanok Village. What landscapes do these two artists, from different nationalities and fields, encounter in Seoul?
On October 15, the Seoul Tourism Foundation unveiled the universal tourism campaign 'Own Your Way, Find Your Seoul,' featuring Japanese wheelchair dancer Kenta Ganbara and British contemporary artist Ryan Gander. The campaign aims to showcase that anyone, regardless of disability or age, can travel through Seoul in their own way.
The campaign consists of two videos: 'Inspiration,' released today, and 'Exploration,' set to debut on October 22. Each video highlights modern architectural sites, urban regeneration spaces, and historical and cultural landmarks through the perspectives of the two artists.
The first video features Kenta Ganbara, who is in South Korea to participate in the Korea International Dance Festival (KIADA2026). He visits the uniquely designed DDP, the Mapo Cultural Storage, which has been transformed from an oil storage facility into a cultural space, and the 'Seoul Dal,' which offers a view of the city from above Yeouido.
The second video showcases Ryan Gander, who traveled to Korea to participate in the public art project 'The Find Seoul' during Frieze Seoul. He explores Namsangol Hanok Village, Deoksugung Palace, and the Seoul Craft Museum, delving into the history and cultural arts of Seoul. During his visit, he also toured the British Embassy in Korea and the Song Eun Art Space.
The campaign promotes 'universal tourism,' a concept aimed at creating a travel environment where various tourists, including people with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women, and families with infants, can travel without inconvenience. It seeks to enhance accessibility to tourist facilities and ensure that everyone can visit desired locations and participate in tourism activities.
The two videos will be available in Korean and English on the Visit Seoul YouTube channel and social media platforms, including the Seoul Danurim Tourism SNS. An online quiz event will coincide with the video releases, with the first event running from October 15 to 20 and the second from October 22 to 27, offering prizes through a drawing for participants.
Kim Byeong-min, CEO of the Seoul Tourism Foundation, stated, 'We wanted to convey the message that anyone can enjoy their own travel experience through the perspectives of these two artists who experience Seoul in different ways. We aim to create a Seoul where everyone, including people with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women, and families with infants, can travel conveniently.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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