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2025 Galleries // 2025 Spark: Fall/Winter Student // Sabangsin

Sabangsin

Winner - Bronze

Competition: Spark: Fall/Winter Student
Designer: Semin Kim
Design Type: Graphics: Print ,
Company / Organization / School: Yonsei University Mirae
Team Members: Semin Kim, Kwon Yoon, Park Jangsol, Won Heesoo & Kang Hyewon

As global interest in K-content continues to rise, Korea is welcoming an increasing number of international visitors. Among the country’s historic sites, Gyeongbokgung stands as the most visited royal palace by foreign tourists. However, many visitors still find it difficult to recognize what distinguishes Gyeongbokgung from other palaces, as its cultural features are not always communicated in a clear or engaging way. This highlighted the need for new cultural content that can better express the palace’s unique identity.

To address this, we focused on the “Sabangsin,” the Four Guardian Deities believed to protect the royal family during the Joseon dynasty. These mythological figures appear within the palace complex as vivid gate murals and sculptural forms near important halls, yet their meaning remains unfamiliar to many visitors today. By reinterpreting the Sabangsin through modern visual design, we aimed to create content that is both accessible and appealing to a global audience.

In addition to the Sabangsin, we incorporated other symbolic aspects of Gyeongbokgung, including its architectural forms, natural scenery, seasonal atmosphere, and traditional motifs such as the Four Gentlemen. Through these elements, we developed cultural products and visual materials that help visitors experience Gyeongbokgung not only as a historical site, but as a