mediacity

In 1999, the Seoul Metropolitan Government launched the biennial event “media_city seoul” as part of an initiative to brand itself as a leading technological city at the dawn of a new century. To ensure the event’s sustainability, a large temporary organization was formed consisting of 16 organizing committee members and over 40 planning advisory committee members. The advisory committee structured the event around three key pillars—art, technology, and industry—which reflected the media-integrated nature of the city. Despite undergoing several name changes before settling on its current title, “Seoul Mediacity Biennale,” many people continue to refer to and remember the event simply as “Mediacity.” Each edition of SMB introduces a new central theme and creates a distinctive platform for exploring, practicing, and reimagining the evolving relationship between contemporary art, technological advancement, and the ever-changing dynamics of cities and media – including their variability, interactivity, and accessibility.