On the occasion of Milan Design Week 2026, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Design Foundation present SEOUL LIFE 2026 MILAN – “Heritage Reimagined, Soban”, an international exhibition exploring the dialogue between Korean tradition and contemporary design. The exhibition will be held from April 20 to May 10, 2026 at the ADI Design Museum in Milan.

At the heart of the project is the Soban, the traditional Korean portable dining table, reinterpreted as a symbol of Korean living culture and as an object that transcends time, technology, and social change.

The exhibition presents a selection of design products developed by Seoul’s leading contemporary designers, integrating traditional craft techniques – such as woodworking, lacquerware, and mother-of-pearl inlay – with advanced technologies including 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and digital fabrication tools.

Through these works, SEOUL LIFE 2026 MILAN proposes a new vision of Korean design: deeply rooted in cultural heritage while oriented toward the future and positioned as a globally competitive model.

Using the Soban as a central medium, the exhibition reinterprets Korean lifestyle, craftsmanship, and aesthetics through a contemporary design language, introducing Seoul’s distinctive way of living to an international audience.