The Seoul Lettering Hanji Lanterns were the theme lanterns of the 2019 Seoul Lantern Festival. Designed to help children approach the festival easily through the theme of “fairy tales,” the work embraced the spirit of a global festival by spelling “SEOUL” in English and integrating Korea’s most representative traditional folktales into each letter. Lanterns depicting Gyeonwu and Jiknyeo, Heungbu and Nolbu, Kongjwi and Patjwi, and Byeoljubujeon were created and installed, while the English lettering was enriched with iconic Seoul landmarks such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan, and the Hangang Railway Bridge.
Traditional folktales are a meaningful and valuable medium, as they pass on dreams and hope to growing children while carrying timeless moral lessons. As the Seoul Lantern Festival reached its 10th anniversary, I personally felt a desire for change, having worked for many years with themes drawn primarily from traditional materials and motifs. One of the greatest meanings of fairy tales lies in their stories. Through them, we come to understand narrative, emotion, and values. I still recall with quiet warmth the sight of parents telling these stories to their children on-site. In addition to Korean tales, we also presented representative folktales from around the world, including those from the United States, China, Japan, and various parts of Europe.
