Fun Light, Fun City in Seoul
Cities meet to spark discussions on how light can create vibrant urban spaces
The 2024 LUCI Asia Urban Lighting Workshop, co-organised by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and LUCI, gathered members of LUCI and the broader urban lighting community to explore how lighting can connect with culture and transform city life.
The workshop brought together 245 participants, representing 33 cities across 18 countries. With 17 expert speakers, the event provided a platform for discussions on creating vibrant and enjoyable urban nightscapes.
Experiencing Seoul’s Nighttime Vibe
The workshop kicked off with an evening tour of two of Seoul’s most dynamic locations: Insa-dong and the Cheonggyecheon Stream. Cheonggyecheon, a 10.9-kilometer stream running through downtown Seoul, is a globally recognised urban restoration project. It has transformed into a thriving public space, safe and lively day and night.
The visit highlighted how Seoul blends art with light in public spaces, supporting local artists and maintaining a balanced atmosphere through thoughtful regulation of media facades.
Opening Ceremony and Good Light Award
The official opening featured the Good Light Award Contest Ceremony, which celebrates projects that enhance urban nightscapes.
Video messages from the LUCI presidency of Rabat and LUCI Director Mark Burton-Page and an introduction from Jasmine van der Pol, LUCI’s Senior Programme Manager, served to emphasise the importance of joy, celebrations, and light festivals in urban environments, while also presenting LUCI’s ongoing activities.
It was followed by presentations from key representatives of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Inkyu Choi (Director of Seoul Design Policy Division) discussed Seoul’s identity and landmark strategy, along with the principles of Design Seoul 2.0, aimed at making the city more fun and engaging through six core parameters: surprising, interacting, feeling, relaxing, enjoying, and playing.
Kwanho Lee (Director of Seoul Urban Landscape Division) provided an overview of Seoul’s Urban Lighting Policy and shared their vision for shaping Seoul’s nightscape, as well as their efforts to reduce light pollution. One example is the Light Pollution Contest, which raises awareness among citizens by inviting them to submit pictures of light pollution in their environment, with the best photos being exhibited and awarded. The winning photos were displayed on the second day of the Asia Urban Lighting Workshop.
Art Director Jae-hyun Ryu presented the Seoul Hangang Bitseom Light Festival, and explained how light can become a style.
Insights from International Lighting Experts
The afternoon sessions showcased diverse insights from international experts from the Netherlands, UK, France, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, and Japan:
- Ronald Ramakers (Director of GLOW Eindhoven) illustrated the vision of the light festival GLOW, its values, its narrative and business model.
- Media artist Lee-nam Lee took us with him on the path to the future, where art and science melt into media art.
- Mike Simpson (Global Application Lead Signify) presented the Illuminated River project, a major project in London with 9 bridges over the river Thames that will define the London’s nightscape.
- Cyril Lamy (Director of ScenoLight Atelier) gave an instructive talk about designing a city’s nightscape, thinking about identity and the local culture of light but also about the need to reconnect to darkness.
- Jung-ha Yang (CEO of Easywid) talked about digital media and the creation of immersive spaces.
- Pete Shing (Principal Lighting Designer at Cundall) shared Cundall’s sophisticated lighting projects lighting creating high sensory environments.
- Gill Minervini (Festival Director of Vivid Sydney) dazzled us with Vivid Sydney, a light festival, strong through collaboration, promoting creative sustainability and social inclusion.
- Miki Matsushita (Lighting Designer and CEO of Miki Matsushita Lighting Design) showed her passion for creating experiences and use light as a tool to raise interest among citizens for their local architectural heritage.
These expert talks underscored the role of light in crafting immersive experiences and meaningful environments, while fostering inclusion and social cohesion. The creative use of technology and art serves as a bridge between moments of celebration and a reconnection with our natural environment, all in an effort to preserve it.
Urban Case Studies: Insights from Korean Cities
Presentations from Korean cities provided insights into local lighting strategies:
- Cheol-hee Lim (Incheon Metropolitan City) presented the hard work on their Lighting Masterplan, with field investigations, citizen’s hearings, benchmarking of other cities’ nightscapes and analysis. A study to make Incheon safer and more attractive.
- Na-eun Lee (Ulsan Metropolitan City) shared the lighting design project of the main pedestrian bridge that thanks to light turned into an enjoyable place where young people can come together. A part of their new nightscape strategy to enhance urban competitiveness.
- Yeon-so Lee (Lighting Designer, ULP Seoul) emphasized to need for warm soft light, low light levels and moderate use of colours, keeping a balance with the environment and preserving the natural darkness of the night, and capturing the sense of a place. Principles that were illustrated by major projects in Seoul.
These presentations were closed with an exposé on the new national regulation in South Korea on light pollution, the “3rd Light Pollution Prevention Plan”, made by Youn-joo Cho (Senior Research Engineer, Sejong University), strengthening joint efforts among ministries, establishing network between central and local governments and promoting change through public private collaboration.
World Café: A Platform for Exchange
The World Café session led by LUCI provided a dynamic space for participants to exchange ideas on the impact of light festivals. Moderated by Ronald Ramakers, Mike Simpson, Cyril Lamy, Pete Shing, and LUCI’s Jasmine van der Pol, the discussion topics included:
- Activating public spaces to foster citizen participation and social cohesion.
- Raising awareness about environmental issues through eco-friendly festival design.
- Reinforcing local traditions and community belonging.
- Highlighting the value of lighting in urban settings.
- Using festivals as testing grounds for new concepts and technologies.
Exploring the Seoul Hangang Bitseom Light Festival
A highlight of the workshop was the visit to the Seoul Hangang Bitseom Light Festival at Hangang Park, set against the stunning Seoul skyline. This exhibition showcased dynamic light displays that evoke inspiration, joy, and healing, offering participants a firsthand experience of Seoul’s commitment to combining art, technology, and public engagement in urban lighting.
The power of Light in Urban Spaces
The 2024 LUCI Asia Urban Lighting Workshop served as a valuable platform for the urban lighting community to exchange knowledge and explore new ideas. It emphasised the power of light to create fun, vibrant, and inclusive urban spaces while remaining sensitive to cultural context and environmental sustainability. With participants from around the globe, the event underscored the importance of collaboration in building cities that are not only illuminated but truly alive after dark.
Photo and video credits
© Jasmine van der Pol; © Seoul Metropolitan Government