Seoul was named the World Design Capital 2010 in the second-ever biennial competition held by the International Design Alliance. The IDA is an advocate organization made up of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, which announced the award at the closing session of its congress in San Francisco, and the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA).

The international competition was judged by a five-member jury composed of trailblazing designers Marc Newson and Patricia Urquiola along with Sergio Chiamparino, mayor of Torino, Italy, the WDC winner for 2008; Dr. Peter Zec, president of ICSID; and Jacques Lange, president of ICOGRADA. "The jury was highly impressed by Seoul's application," says Dr. Zec. "Seoul's remarkable achievements in design-led development--particularly in the past decade--exemplify the spirit of the WDC designation."

An official release from ICSID states that Seoul's application detailing the impact of design on the social, cultural, and economic development of the city coupled with the profusion of high-tech Korean consumer products around the globe from brands including LG Electronics, Samsung, Hyundai, Daewoo, Helio, and Kia, cinched the win. Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon declared in his acceptance speech, "Design is a growth driver of the Seoul economy. Seoul will send out the message that design is the power to change the world for the better." Urquiola noted, "It is telling…that the W hotel [chain] chose Seoul as its first location outside of North America."