The City of Seoul has a rich artistic environment of cultural halls, performing arts centers, museums and many other monuments of historic importance. The design of the 400,000 square foot Seoul Performing Arts Center was in response to an international ideas competition for a cultural complex which would become an architectural icon to the City of Seoul as well as symbolize the cultural wealth, dynamism, and the international prestige of the city.

The center is located on the Han River on Nodeul Island which divides the City of Seoul from north to south. The program includes an opera and a concert hall, each with a capacity of 1,500 seats, an open-air concert hall, and other related facilities and amenities.