Design Council Busan 2026 - 137
International Design Competition
for the Redevelopment of the Hwamyeong Outdoor Swimming Pool
Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan Design Promotion Agency are hosting the “Hwamyeong Outdoor Swimming Pool International Design Competition” to develop designs that create synergy with Busan’s waterfront space redevelopment project and establish a year-round family-friendly water leisure complex. We invite capable designers and companies to participate in this competitive contest and look forward to your interest and engagement.
Aug 10, 2026 President, Design Council Busan |
Ⅰ | Competition Overview |
| ・화명 야외수영장 국제 디자인 공모전 ・International Design Competition for the Redevelopment of the Hwamyeong Outdoor Swimming Pool | |||||||||
Purpose of the Competition | - To create synergies with Busan waterfront spatial restruction project and develop an eco-friendly waterfront leisure space that reflects ecological, environmental and cultural values by transforming the existing summer-only facilities into a year-round, family -oriented destination | |||||||||
Host Organization | Busan Metropolitan City, Design Council Busan | |||||||||
Application period | - Stage 1 Proposal Submission : Aug. 10(Mon) – Sep. 7(Mon), 2026, 13:00 - Stage 2 Design Submission : Oct. 14(Wed), 2026, 18:00 | |||||||||
Announcement of Final Selected finalist | Oct. 19 (Mon), 2026 | |||||||||
Detailed Design | Oct 20(Tue) – Dec 28(Mon), 2026 | |||||||||
Submission | Submissions accepted only via the competition website(https://hwamyeong-idc.kr/) | |||||||||
Submission Materials | Proposal Document (up to 10 pages) and Portfolio (up to 5 pages), combined total not to exceed 15 pages | |||||||||
Prize |
○ Competition Format
- This competition proceeds as a two-stage international design competition.
- (Stage 1) Three (3) teams will be selected based on the evaluation of applications submitted through the international design competition.
Proposal, Portfolio | → | Proposal Assessment | → | Selection of Three Companies |
Application Submission | Written Evaluation | Announcement of Results |
- (Stage 2) Following the evaluation of design proposals submitted by the three teams selected in Stage 1, one (1) final team will be selected.
Design Statement, Presentation Materials | → | Design Evaluation | → | Final Selection: One Company (Final Awardee) |
Design Submissions | Presentation Evaluation | Final Announcement of Results |
※ Once a team advances to Stage 2 after passing Stage 1, no changes may be made to the original team composition, including the designated representative, as submitted during Stage 1. Exceptions may be permitted only in unavoidable circumstances such as the death of a key team member, or the bankruptcy, dissolution, or liquidation of the participating entity. However, even in such cases, if the team fails to submit the required documentation requested by Design Council Busan—such as supporting evidence, letters of confirmation regarding rights transfer, and other relevant materials—the change in team composition shall not be allowed.
Ⅱ | Competition Details |
○ Topic : Implementing a Space-as-a-Service (SaaS) model to develop all-season family aquatic leisure complex (Swimming Pool)
○ Competition Details : Design for a year-round family swimming pool and leisure hub
• Site : Outdoor water play facility within Hwamyeong Ecological Park
(Area of 763-5, Deokcheon-dong, Buk-gu)
• Area : Approximate development area: 14,106㎡/Competition scope area: 25,757㎡
*The scope of the design for the competition shall be limited to the existing site.
○ Competition Details : Place Making and Public Goods designs
* Place Making : Place Making is an approach to urban planning and design that focuses on the people who use of space, rather than on physical structures or the buildings themselves. It aims to create environments that are not only functional, but also beautiful and meaningful to those who live, work, and engage in everyday life within them.
Place Making Design | - Design proposals reflecting site-specific users and environment - Spatial Service Model Planning : Identifying problems in the target area and proposing design-based solutions - Design proposals considering spatial connectivity with the surrounding environment, existing facilities, and landmarks - Sustainability and Maintenance: consideration for sustainability, management, and long-term maintenance |
Public Goods Design | - Design proposals for public facilities within the site |
※ Please refer to Section 16. Detailed Design Guidelines for specific design directions and detailed facility requirements
○ Eligibility Requirements
Division | Details |
Qualifications for Participation | A. The lead firm (or lead designer) must be a domestic or international designer or enterprise (institution) with proven capabilities in public design. Specifically, they must either possess award-winning experience in a public design-related competition within three (3) years as of the announcement date, or hold a track record of participating in three (3) or more projects in public design-related fields. Furthermore, they may participate as a joint venture (consortium), provided they fulfill either qualification 1) or 2) below for construction documentation: 1) A firm must be registered as a Construction Technology Service Business [General, Design Project Management (General), or Design Project Management (General Design Services)] under Article 26 of the Construction Technology Promotion Act. Additionally, it must be registered as an Engineering Business in the Construction Sector (Landscaping) under Article 21 of the Engineering Industry Promotion Act, or registered in the same field under Article 6 of the Professional Engineers Act. 2) For architecture, participation is open to individuals or firms that hold an Architect's License under Articles 7 and 23 of the Certified Architects Act and have officially registered and opened an architectural office. ※ However, international applicants must form a joint venture with a domestic firm that fulfills either qualification 1) or 2) above within South Korea by the competition registration deadline. In the case of international applicants, the domestic firm within the team shall act as the lead representative to exercise all official authority. • The representative participant must be legally and operationally qualified to enter into and perform the contract (e.g., a valid business registration). • The representative participant shall hold full legal authority to submit and withdraw documents, receive award payments, and grant or transfer design-related rights as required for the execution of this project. • Joint participation is permitted for up to four (4) entities, including the representative participant. The minimum participation share for each member is 10% or higher. B. Extra Points for Busan-Based Firms (※ Refer to Evaluation Criteria and Procedures for details) |
Participation Restrictions | • Any company or institution (including both the representative and all consortium members) subject to administrative dispositions, such as registration cancellation, suspension of business, closure, or business restrictions, by relevant authorities as of the registration deadline, shall be disqualified from participation. • No entity may participate in multiple joint applications for this competition. • Individuals or organizations involved in the planning or operation of this project or design competition, including members of the operating committee, are strictly prohibited from participating. |
○ Status and Obligations of the Selected Companies
Division | Details |
Three Finalists Selected for Stage 2 | • For five (5) years from the date of each contract, Design Council Busan shall have an exclusive license to use, reproduce, distribute, display, publicly transmit, and create derivative works from the selected participants’ design outcomes and related submissions. Such use is limited to non-commercial publication, exhibition, archiving, and promotion of the competition and project through online and offline media, including official websites, social media, press releases, printed materials, and video content. • Third-party works or licensed materials included in a deliverable may be used only within the scope of the applicable license and are excluded from the foregoing license. The selected participant shall disclose in writing the relevant material and all applicable conditions, including the permitted purpose, term, and media. • Upon expiry of the five-year term, the foregoing license shall terminate. Design Council Busan may retain a copy solely for public-record and internal archival purposes, but may not newly disclose or use it for promotion without a separate written agreement. • Selected participants shall not use the submitted materials for any purpose other than fulfilling the design competition and related services, without Design Council Busan’s prior written consent during the term of the agreement. |
The Final Selected Company (Final Awardee) | • All copyright, design rights, and any ancillary intellectual property rights for all deliverables—including designs, working drawings, structural review reports, images, presentation materials, 3D data, and any other outputs created and submitted by the final winner during this competition and the subsequent contract execution process—shall be permanently and exclusively assigned and vested in Busan Metropolitan City and Design Council Busan upon delivery of the outputs. This assignment encompasses all economic rights of copyright, including the right of reproduction, distribution, exhibition, public transmission, and the creation of derivative works. • Notwithstanding the foregoing, any third-party work or licensed material included in a deliverable may be used only within the scope of the applicable license and is excluded from the assignment. The final awardee shall disclose in writing the relevant material and all applicable conditions, including the permitted purpose, term, and media • Busan Metropolitan City and Design Council Busan may freely utilize the relevant deliverables for public purposes and project implementation through modification, supplementation, reproduction, distribution, exhibition, public transmission, publication, production, installation, maintenance, reprocessing, and any other necessary methods, without any separate or additional compensation. • The final awardee agrees that Busan Metropolitan City and Design Council Busan may modify, supplement, or adapt the deliverables, or engage a third party to do so, for the competition, project promotion, exhibition, archiving, permitting, constructability, safety, and maintenance. Any change to the essential content or creative expression shall be discussed with the final awardee in advance. Attribution may be omitted or presented in a different manner depending on the purpose and format of use. • The final winner shall not provide the deliverables of this competition to any third party or utilize them commercially without the prior written approval of Busan Metropolitan City and Design Council Busan. • The compensation for the transfer and vesting of rights under this clause shall be deemed to be fully included in the prize money of this competition and the subsequent contract amount. • Design Council Busan may request revisions to the selected design to the extent reasonably necessary for actual implementation, and the selected participant shall comply with such requests as long as they do not substantially alter the original design concept. |
○ Prize
Category | Award | Remarks |
Upon Advancement to Stage 2 (3 Teams) | KRW30,000,000 (Each) | Design Development Fee |
Final Awardee (1Team) | KRW330,000,000 | Detailed Design and Engineering (Including structural review and regulatory approvals) |
※ The estimated construction cost of approximately KRW 10 billion (including VAT)
※ All payments will be made in Korean Won (KRW) as indicated in the table above. The U.S. dollar (USD) equivalents shown are for reference only and are based on an exchange rate of USD 1 = KRW 1,460. The final applicable exchange rate shall be determined on the actual date of payment, based on the rate announced by KEB Hana Bank.
※ The prize amounts indicated above are inclusive of all applicable taxes in the Republic of Korea, as well as any associated fees and charges (e.g. international wire transfer fees). For the final awardee, the total amount includes costs related to detailed design, structural review, regulatory approvals.
Ⅲ | Evaluation Criteria |
○ Evaluation Criteria and Procedures
A. Stage 1: Written Evaluation of Submitted Proposals
• Three (3) teams will be shortlisted for Stage 2 based on the evaluation of submitted applications.
• The evaluation will be conducted by the jury, established by Design Council Busan, in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth below.
• The three highest-scoring applicants will be selected based on the total score.
• Evaluation Categories and Scoring
Evaluation Categories | Score |
Innovation | 20 |
Originality and Creativity | 20 |
Efficiency and Quality of Integration Idea | 15 |
Feasibility | 15 |
Quality and Relevance of Past Achievements | 30 |
• Criteria for Awarding Extra Points to Busan-Based Firms
Category | Detailed Specifications |
Applied Target for Bonus Points | - Busan location as of the announcement date must be evidenced by a corporate registry certificate (registered head office) or, for an individual business, a business registration certificate (principal office). The firm may participate as the lead firm or a consortium member |
Applied Stage for Bonus Points | - Applicable only to the Stage 1 Competition Evaluation (Idea & Concept Stage) Extra points will not be applied to the Stage 2 Evaluation and Final Selection Stage |
Bonus Point Application Method | - A three (3)-point bonus is added to the final Stage 1 score. The bonus is granted once per submission and is not cumulative where multiple Busan-based firms participate |
B. Stage 2: Design Presentation Evaluation
• One (1) final awardee will be selected based on the evaluation of design development outcomes submitted by the three shortlisted teams.
• The evaluation will be conducted by the jury, established by Design Council Busan, and the team with the highest total score will be selected in accordance with the evaluation criteria below.
• If two or more applicants receive the same Stage 2 total score, priority shall be determined by the higher score in the following order: (i) Feasibility and Ease of Maintenance, (ii) Functionality and Efficiency, and (iii) Innovation and Creativity. If the scores remain tied, the Evaluation Committee shall determine the final ranking by further deliberation and resolution.
• The presenter must be a member of the representative company. Each team will be allocated 30 minutes total: 15 minutes for the presentation and 15 minutes for the Q&A session.
• In the case of international participants, remote presentation via online conferencing or pre-recorded video may be permitted with prior approval from Design Council Busan.
* The presenter must have been employed by the participating entity prior to the competition announcement date. On the day of the presentation, they must submit a certificate of employment and a copy of their ID for identification.
* The presentation content must strictly maintain anonymity and be limited solely to the artwork's features and design intent.
• Evaluation Criteria and Scoring
Evaluation Criteria | Score |
Innovation and Creativity | 20 |
Functionality and Efficiency | 20 |
Spatial Harmony and Connectivity with Surroundings | 20 |
Potential for Spatial Activation | 20 |
Feasibility and Ease of Maintenance | 20 |
C. Entries that fall under any of the following circumstances will be disqualified from the evaluation. If such issues are identified after the final selection, the selection may be revoked.
• If the same individual is found to have been involved in more than one submission
• If the participant initiates or engages in any contact, communication, or solicitation with members of the Organizing Committee at any stage during the competition process
• If the submitted work is disclosed to the public, including via social media, prior to the official announcement of the final results
• If the submitted work is found to be identical or substantially similar to an existing work, whether created by the applicant or a third party, that has been previously published or disclosed
• If the submission is made by a person or entity that does not meet the eligibility requirements
Ⅳ | Submission Materials |
Division | Details |
(Stage 1) Design Proposal Competition | 1) Preparation of Application Documents: Forms [1 to 7] must be compiled into a single file (Format: A4 size, PDF format) - [Form 1] Competition Application Form - [Form 2] Appointment of Representative (1 copy) ※ Applicable for joint applications - [Form 3] Pledge of Allegiance/Oath (1 copy per firm for joint applications) - [Form 4] Memorandum of Security (1 copy per firm for joint applications) - [Form 5] Agreement on Promotion, Publication, and Utilization (1 copy per firm for joint applications) - [Form 6] Participant List (1 copy) - [Form 7] Consent Form for Personal Information Collection, Use, and Processing of Unique Identifying Information 2) Preparation of Proposal and Portfolio (Format: A4 size, PDF format, inserted images recommended at 200 dpi or higher) - Must be prepared within a maximum of 15 pages in total (written in both Korean and English), focusing on the design development execution plan and the applicant’s track record/performance. This includes a 10-page Proposal and a 5-page Portfolio (containing images, content, relevant website links, etc.). ※ For the Stage 1 Design Proposal, participants are required to propose design concepts, directions, and ideas (reflecting the characteristics of the surrounding site); the submission of final completed designs is not required. ※ For the Stage 1 Portfolio and Capability, the submission must include award-winning performance in public design-related competitions within the last three (3) years from the announcement date or participation experience in at least three public design-related projects. [Recommended Content to Include]: - Presentation of the types of public facilities (Public Goods) designed in accordance with the site. - Design concepts, directions, and ideas regarding spatial design (Placemaking) and facility design (Public Goods). - Ideas for integrating the functions and types of facilities (Public Goods), etc. |
(Stage 2) Upon Design Submission | • Design Statement up to 30 pages • Presentation Materials (PPT or PDF format, up to 30 pages; A video may be submitted if necessary, with a maximum duration of 2 minutes) • Design Images: up to 10 images (A3 size, JPG format, minimum resolution of 300 dpi, max. file size per image: 20MB) Presentation materials must be prepared and submitted in both Korean and English. |
General Requirements | • All submissions must be made exclusively through the official competition website: https://hwamyeong-idc.kr/ • All submitted materials may be used for post-competition publication and promotion and public relations activities. Upon request by Design Council Busan, the final awardee shall actively cooperate in entering the winning design into relevant international design competitions. • All required files must be fully uploaded before the submission deadline. Participants should allow sufficient time for the upload process. (※ Any incomplete uploads as of the deadline will be considered as failure to meet the submission deadline and will result in disqualification.) • All submissions from non-selected participants will be disposed of within six (6) months from the date the final awardee is publicly announced. However, up to five (5) representative images per design used for archiving and promotional purposes under Article 14 are excluded from this disposal requirement • Personal information will be collected and used only to the extent necessary for registration, eligibility verification, evaluation, notification, award payment, and dispute handling. Unless retention is required by applicable law, it will be retained for six (6) months after the announcement of the final awardee and then irreversibly destroyed. Detailed items, retention periods, third-party disclosures, and consequences of refusing consent shall be stated in the privacy policy and a separate consent form on the competition website. All submissions and participant information shall remain confidential until the final results are announced • After the announcement of the final awardee, participants may include their participation and submissions in their portfolios. Before that announcement, participants may state only the fact of participation and must not disclose any design image or substantive content • To ensure impartiality in the evaluation process, no submission shall include any names, logos, symbols, titles, or other identifiers that could reveal the identity of the applicant. |
Ⅴ | Schedule(Tentative) |
Category | Date | Remarks |
Announcement | Aug 10(Mon) – Sep 7(Mon), 2026 | - Announcement published on the official websites (Approx 4 weeks) https://www.dcb.or.kr, https://hwamyeong-idc.kr/ |
Stage 1 QnA Submissions | Aug 10(Mon) – Aug 18(Tue), 2026 18:00 | - All inquiries must be submitted via email at rannyv@dcb.or.kr |
Stage 1 - QnA Response | Aug 20(Thu), 2026 | - Responses to be provided individually via email |
Stage 1 - Proposal Submission | Aug 10(Mon) – Sep 7(Mon), 2026, 13:00 | - Approx 4 weeks - Submissions accepted only via the competition website(https://hwamyeong-idc.kr/) |
Site Briefing | Aug 21(Fri), 2026, 16:00 | Pre-registration Required Email Registration(rannyv@dcb.or.kr) |
Stage 1 - Proposal Evaluation | Sep 9(Wed), 2026 | Evaluation of design proposals and portfolios Selection of up to 3 finalists |
Stage 1 – Result Announcement | Sep 11(Fri), 2026 | - Results to be announced on the competition website (https://hwamyeong-idc.kr/) |
Stage 2 – Design Submission | Oct 14(Wed), 2026, 18:00 | - Approx 4 weeks - Submission accepted only via email at rannyv@dcb.or.kr |
Stage 2 - Final Evaluation | By Oct 16 (Fri), 2026 | Presentation-based evaluation(PT review) |
Announcement of Final Awardee | By Oct 19 (Mon), 2026 | - Announcement to be posted on the website(https://hwamyeong-idc.kr/) |
Detailed Design | Oct 20(Tue) – Dec 28(Mon), 2026 | Approx 10 weeks includes drawings, specifications, structural review of the final awardee |
※ All dates and times indicated in this guideline, including the competition schedule, are based on Korea Standard Time (KST, GMT+9). Please note that the schedule is subject to change at the discretion of Design Council Busan. Any changes or updates will be announced in a timely manner on the official competition website: https://www.dcb.or.kr, https://hwamyeong-idc.kr/
Ⅵ | Additional Matters |
A. Intellectual Property Rights
All participants shall retain the copyright to their submissions. All submitted documents and designs must be original creations of the participant and must not infringe upon any third party’s copyright or other intellectual property rights.
Participants are solely responsible for obtaining any and all permissions, licenses, and clearances related to the use of third-party materials included in their submissions. Upon request by Design Council Busan, participants must provide documentary evidence related to such approvals and procedures.
Where there are reasonable grounds to believe that a selected work infringes a third party’s intellectual property rights, Design Council Busan shall give the selected participant written notice of the grounds and evidence and at least ten (10) days to respond. If no response is submitted or infringement is confirmed after review, the selection may be revoked and the participant shall return the full award within the period stated in the notice.
For non-selected entries, Design Council Busan may use up to five (5) representative images per design strictly for competition-related archiving and non-commercial promotional purposes. Participants shall provide separate consent to this use when applying. Any other use requires prior written consultation and agreement with the participant.
For a joint submission, the award shall in principle be paid in a lump sum to the lead firm, which shall distribute it among consortium members under their agreement and handle applicable taxes and withholding. Every consortium member must sign Form 3 or a separate rights-assignment consent covering the grant or assignment of rights in the deliverables.
If the competition or selection is cancelled due to budget reduction, project suspension, or another reason not attributable to a participant or awardee, compensation for work properly performed and submitted shall be agreed by the parties in consideration of progress and actual costs incurred.
Personal information will be collected and used within the scope necessary for the purposes of application registration, eligibility verification, evaluation, result notification, award payment, and dispute resolution. Except where retention is required by relevant laws and regulations, the collected information will be retained for six (6) months from the date of the final selection announcement and then destroyed using non-recoverable methods. Specific items to be collected, retention periods, third-party disclosures, and any disadvantages resulting from a refusal to consent will be specified in the privacy policy on the competition website and in a separate consent form.
In the event of any claims, disputes, or legal proceedings resulting from infringement of third-party intellectual property rights, the selected participant shall bear full responsibility and legal costs, and shall indemnify and hold Design Council Busan harmless from any damages or liability arising therefrom.
※ High-resolution image files and/or 3D renderings may be requested if necessary.
All rights and obligations set forth in this guideline, including those related to intellectual property, shall remain in effect throughout the duration of the agreement entered into as a result of this competition.
B. Dispute Resolution
Participants may raise objections or claims to Design Council Busan concerning any matters related to copyrights or other rights arising from participation in the competition.
In the event of any dispute regarding the interpretation or enforcement of this competition, such matters shall be resolved in accordance with the laws and practices of the Republic of Korea. The Korean version of this guideline and related contracts shall prevail over any translations in case of discrepancies.
In the event of a dispute between the participant and Design Council Busan, both parties shall endeavor to resolve the matter amicably through consultation. If the dispute cannot be resolved through amicable consultation and legal action becomes necessary, the Busan District Court, Dongbu Branch (Republic of Korea) shall have exclusive jurisdiction as the court of first instance.
○ Special Provisions
All rights, obligations, and other statuses attributed to Design Council Busan under this competition guideline shall equally apply to Busan Metropolitan City, the co-host of this competition. |