Revision 10

Overview

Dowon is one of the three playable cities in inZOI. It is a dense metropolis that blends tradition and modernity, drawing heavy inspiration from Seoul and the Gangnam district of South Korea. Ancient palaces sit alongside glass skyscrapers. Neon signs illuminate narrow alleyways while centuries-old temple grounds remain quiet a few blocks away. The city's official description calls it a place where players can "enjoy the charm of a Korean metropolis" with a vibrant arts and culture scene that reflects the Hallyu wave.

Dowon is available from the start of the game and offers a distinctly urban lifestyle for Zois who prefer city living. One notable cultural detail is that Zois in Dowon automatically take their shoes off when entering their own homes, reflecting the real Korean custom of removing shoes indoors. Players may also notice architectural references to real Seoul landmarks, including a building resembling the Lotte World Tower visible in the skyline.

Once a player selects Dowon during family creation, those Zois cannot currently relocate to another city. The developers have indicated that cross-city relocation is planned for a future update.

Geography and Layout

Dowon is laid out as a compact urban grid with a mix of high-rise commercial districts, residential neighborhoods, cultural landmarks, and green spaces. The Harang River runs along the southern edge of the city, with parkland stretching along its banks. The city center is dominated by commercial buildings, entertainment venues, and the prominent Nuri Plaza public square. Temple grounds and traditional architecture occupy the western portion of the map, while residential blocks and schools are concentrated in the northeast.

The city contains 12 residential lots and 25 community lots, giving players a wide range of places to live, work, shop, and socialize. Major areas include the Harang River Park corridor (divided into Central, East, and West sections), the Central Park complex (with its fountain plaza and garden square), the Ullim Temple grounds, and the Nuri Plaza commercial hub.

Climate and Seasons

Dowon cycles through four distinct seasons that mimic real-world weather patterns. Spring brings cherry blossoms and mild temperatures. Summer is hot and humid with occasional heavy rain. Autumn covers the city in orange and red foliage. Winter drops heavy snow and brings harsh cold.

These weather conditions affect gameplay directly. Wearing the wrong clothing in winter can make a Zoi sick, and prolonged exposure to extreme cold can be fatal, leading to death. The seasonal cycle also changes the visual appearance of parks and outdoor areas throughout the year, with cherry blossoms in spring and snow-covered streets in winter.

Key Locations

Dowon contains a wide variety of public spaces, commercial areas, and cultural landmarks. The city's layout rewards exploration, with distinct areas offering different activities and atmospheres. The 25 community lots span parks, cafes, entertainment venues, workplaces, shops, financial institutions, and cultural sites.

Parks and Green Spaces

Harang River Park

Harang River Park is the largest public green space in Dowon. It runs along the riverfront and is divided into three sections: Central, East, and West. Each section has its own character.

• Central section contains food stalls selling tteokbokki, bungeoppang, and fishcakes. It also has coffee booths, lottery stands, claw machines, and easels for painting.

• East section has outdoor workout equipment for fitness activities, including pull-up bars and resistance machines.

• West section has basketball courts where Zois can play pickup games as a hobby.

All three sections are popular gathering spots for social events. The park also features an unmarked outdoor gym area along a green cycling lane overlooking the river, with multiple pieces of exercise equipment. This is the primary public gym location in Dowon.

Central Park

Central Park is a smaller urban park in the heart of the city, surrounded by high-rise buildings. It is divided into several sub-areas: the main park with benches and walking paths, the Fountain area lined with flea market stalls and busking performance spots, and the Garden Square with open lawns. Zois can jog, sit and read, practice yoga, play basketball, or have conversations with other Zois through interactions. It is a common location for building relationships and chance encounters driven by the Smart Zoi system.

Nuri Plaza

Nuri Plaza is a large public square and commercial hub located in the center of Dowon. It is the city's main social gathering point. The plaza features a giant cat statue, a stage, lottery ticket booths, photo booths, claw machines, and a prominent flea market with numerous vendor stalls. Food stalls around the plaza sell bibimbap, fishcakes, tteokbokki, bungeoppang, and other Korean street food. The flea market opens at 9:00 AM, with vendors finishing their setup around 9:10 AM. Nuri Plaza has one of the largest and most visible flea markets in the game, making it a popular destination for shopping and socializing.

Cultural Landmarks

Ullim Temple

Ullim Temple is a traditional Korean-style temple complex in Dowon. It sits on elevated ground with stone steps leading up to the main gate. Zois can visit to meditate, which affects their emotions and needs. The temple grounds include gardens, quiet courtyards, and traditional Hanok-style architecture with tiled roofs and painted wooden beams. Step into Ullim Temple where, according to its in-game description, "history comes alive under the warm light of its dazzling lanterns." The complex is divided into the Temple Grounds (the main temple area) and the Temple Square (a marketplace area). It is one of the most visually distinctive locations in the city, with traditional architecture contrasting against the modern skyline visible in the background.

Ullim Cafe

Ullim Cafe is a Hanok-style vintage cafe located on the grounds of Ullim Temple, added in the v0.6.0 Lunar New Year update (February 2026). It is one of the purchasable lots in Dowon, meaning players can buy it and operate it as a business using the business system. The cafe's traditional architecture uses the same Hanok-style building assets introduced with the Lunar New Year content update. It was the first property in Dowon designed specifically around the Hanok aesthetic, and sits within the existing Ullim Temple complex rather than as a separate city lot.

Narim Art Gallery

Narim Art Gallery is a community lot located in the center of Dowon. It is an exhibition space filled with artwork and sculptures. According to its in-game description, it is "the best place to find artistic inspiration." The gallery is open on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. It is connected to Cafe Gaon, which sits adjacent to it.

AR Library

AR Library is a public library facility in Dowon. Its in-game description calls it "cozy yet mysterious," offering an "exotic reading experience" that lets Zois expand their horizons. Zois can visit to read books and browse the shelves. Reading at the library can contribute to skill development and satisfy fun-related needs.

Entertainment and Nightlife

Adam Entertainment

Adam Entertainment is a K-pop entertainment company building located in Dowon. It is the workplace for the Idol Trainee career path. The building houses K-pop practice rooms with mirrored walls and sound systems, as well as fully equipped recording studios. Zois pursuing the Idol Trainee career spend most of their working hours here, practicing choreography and recording tracks. According to its in-game description, players can "pursue your dreams as an aspiring world star" by working as an idol or a member of the strategy team. The building is open on weekdays from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM. Other Zois can visit the lobby area. Instruments can also be practiced in a professional setting here.

Plesio Gaming Cafe

Plesio Gaming Cafe is an internet cafe in Dowon where Zois can play games on high-end computers and arcade machines, socialize with other gamers, and order food and beverages. It is a key location for the Pro Gamer career and also serves as a hobby location. The cafe is described as "a popular spot for gamers in Dowon" where Zois can "forget the stress of daily life and immerse yourself in the world of gaming." It is open daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Coin Booth Karaoke

Coin Booth Karaoke is a karaoke venue in Dowon where Zois can rent rooms to sing solo or with friends. Its tagline is "one coin is all it takes for you to become a pop star." The venue also allows costume changing, letting Zois dress up before performing. Visiting with other Zois improves relationships and satisfies fun-related needs. It is open daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Lounge Gongmyeong

Lounge Gongmyeong is an upscale entertainment lounge located on the western side of Dowon. The venue offers food, drinks, art viewing, and darts. Its in-game description invites visitors to spend "an unforgettable time tonight" for a "classy way to end your day." As of the v0.3.0 update, it was reclassified from a food and drink venue to an entertainment venue. It is open daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

Tarot Fortune Cafe

Tarot Fortune Cafe is a community lot located in the northwest of Dowon. It offers tarot readings, dream interpretations, and a variety of other fortune-telling experiences. This popular spot is open daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM and is one of Dowon's more unique venues that cannot be found in other cities.

Shops and Commercial Areas

Dowon has a variety of shops and commercial establishments spread across the city. Zois earn Meow (the in-game currency) through their careers and can spend it at any of these locations. Prices vary and some items are exclusive to certain shops.

Studios and Event Spaces

Dowon includes several special-purpose venues for photography and celebrations.

• Outdoor Wedding Venue is a dedicated event space where Zois can hold wedding ceremonies. The venue comes pre-decorated with an outdoor kitchen and seating arrangements. It is one of the locations available for social events.

• Themed Studio is a photo studio on the northern side of Dowon. It offers a wide range of props, unique lighting setups, and the ability to take group shots featuring different Zois. Players can use items like confetti and soap bubbles for creative profile pictures and concept photos.

Residential Lots

Dowon has 12 residential lots available for Zois to live in. The lots range from large apartment buildings to smaller standalone houses. Players can furnish and customize interiors using Build Mode and populate them with furniture purchased from shops or crafted with the 3D Printer. The Lots and Housing system determines monthly Utility Bills based on lot size and amenities. Some lots come pre-furnished with resident families, while others are empty properties that players can build on from scratch.

Lot sizes affect the amount of furniture and objects that can be placed inside. Larger lots like Dowon Heights Building allow for elaborate multi-room layouts, while Metro House is suited to single Zois or couples who want low Utility Bills. Empty properties (Evergreen House Property and Aram Estate Property) can be purchased cheaply for their land value alone, giving players full creative freedom in Build Mode.

Careers

Dowon offers several unique careers that are not available in other cities. These reflect the city's cultural identity as a Korean entertainment and urban center.

Zois can also attend university in Dowon before or during their career. Career choice affects daily schedules, needs patterns, and available interactions with other Zois.

Schools

The Dowon school system is centered around Youngsung School, a community lot in the northeast of the city. The school oversees education from elementary through university level, integrating both academics and personal development. Students who attend the school follow the Life Stages progression. The school operates on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

All levels operate on a schedule that follows the Time and Seasons system. Student Zois must attend classes or their grades will drop, which affects future career opportunities. University attendance is optional but can provide significant advantages when entering competitive career paths like Idol Trainee or Pro Gamer.

Public Services

Dowon has several public service buildings that support the city's infrastructure and provide career opportunities.

• Dowon Police Station is dedicated to preventing crime and maintaining public safety. It serves as the workplace for the Officer career.

• Dowon Fire Station ensures the safety of Dowon's residents. It is the workplace for the Firefighter career, where Zois respond to emergencies and extinguish fires.

• Narae Bank provides secure financial services including bank accounts, loans, and asset management. Located on the eastern side of Dowon, it is open weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Zois can open bank accounts and manage their finances here.

Transportation

Dowon's primary public transportation system is its underground subway. Stations are located throughout the city and marked on the map. Zois enter a station, select a destination, and a loading screen transitions them to the arrival station. The subway is the fastest way to cross the city without owning a car. Metro House, one of the residential lots, is specifically noted for its convenient proximity to a subway station.

Dowon does not have a bus system. This is the opposite of Bliss Bay, which has buses but no subway. Zois who prefer driving can purchase personal vehicles. Taxis are also available for on-demand travel. Walking is always an option, though the city is large enough that it takes significant in-game time to cross entirely on foot.

Comparison with Other Cities

Dowon differs from Bliss Bay and Cahaya in several key ways. The following table summarizes the main differences.

Edit City

Players can customize Dowon's public spaces using Edit City mode. This includes changing the weather temporarily (forcing snow in summer, for example), adjusting environmental cleanliness, placing decorations, and adding animals to public areas. Edit City does not allow creating entirely new cities but provides extensive control over the look and feel of existing ones. Players can use this mode to personalize the atmosphere of parks, plazas, and other community spaces throughout Dowon.

Tips

• If you want to live near public transit, choose Metro House for its close proximity to a subway station.

• The Harang River Park outdoor gym along the cycling lane is the main public workout area in Dowon. Look for the green lane with a bicycle symbol to find it.

• Nuri Plaza has the largest and most visible flea market in Dowon. Arrive after 9:10 AM when vendors finish setting up for the best selection.

• Empty lots (Aram Estate Property at 5,000 Meow and Evergreen House Property at 2,000 Meow) are the cheapest way to get started if you want full creative control over your home design.

• Ullim Cafe can be purchased and operated as a business, making it a good option for Zois who want to run a cafe in a scenic location.

• The Tarot Fortune Cafe and AR Library are unique to Dowon and offer activities not found in other cities.