Seoul-based global ad agency Cheil Worldwide has used augmented reality and virtual reality to bring the Great Gate of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) back to life, more than 104 years after it was destroyed.
The Donuimun Gate, one of the Four Great Gates in the City Wall of Seoul, was destroyed in 1915 during the Japanese colonial period. In its place there now stands a busy intersection.
Donuimun Gate, photographed in 1904 by Horace Grant Underwood. (Library of Congress)
For years, the government made plans to rebuild the gate, said Cheil, but was unable to complete the project due to the vast expense and concerns over traffic disturbance.
Helping to See the Unseen
Partnering with the Cultural Heritage Administration, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Woomi Construction, Cheil Worldwide worked together with the academic community specializing in architecture and traditional decorative coloring, as well as visual effects experts, to sort through research and historical documentation, including more than 1 million data points and 3,500 studies.
We hope that by bringing Donuimun back to life through digital technology we can raise awareness of some of Korea’s lost cultural assets,
The end result is Cheil’s augmented reality app, that allows people to experience the digitally restored gate. The app additionally displays the monument in different lights based on different times of the day.
As part of the initiative, a nearby experience center has been set up offering visitors a virtual reality experience of the gate in its original glory.
Cheil has also placed a kiosk near the site, where visitors can enjoy a life-sized, 3D virtual model of the missing gate, as well as learning more about its history and, the process of digital restoration.
At the experience center, visitors can hear historical tales of Donuimun, told via a virtual reality journey that takes you through the Joseon Dynasty era, starting in front of the gate, moving inside the gatehouse and finishing with a bird’s eye view of the city around the gate. There is also a miniature model of Donuimun, and other visual materials to illustrate how the gate was rebuilt.
“We hope that by bringing Donuimun back to life through digital technology we can raise awareness of some of Korea’s lost cultural assets,” said Jong-chul Jang, account director at Cheil Worldwide.
“Cheil will continue to develop experiential content that connects Korea’s cultural property and cutting-edge technology, based on our shared values and our digital technology capabilities. The Donuimun project is just the beginning for us.”
Credits
Chief Creative Officer: Sukjun Yoon
Creative Directors: Hye Kyung Jeong, JaeHun Heo
Copywriter: Sungwon Won
Art Directors: Donny Park, Kangmin Kim, Seungtae Kim, Hee Young Lee
Senior Event Marketing Manager: Areum Han
Senior Digital Planning Manager: SuYoung Jung
Account Director: JongChul Jang
Senior Account Manager: Seoheui Choi
Senior Producer: Sungsu Wi
Senior Project Manager: Carrey Kim
