Enjoy VR and AI Immersive Content in Gwanghwamun... Opening of 'Gwanghwa Era'

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Creative Content Agency, opened 'Gwanghwa Era' on the 17th, a large-scale immersive content experience in the Gwanghwamun area, the center of history, culture, and tourism.

At 'Gwanghwa Era,' the history, present, and future of Seoul’s Gwanghwamun are brought to life through eight vivid immersive contents utilizing advanced technologies such as 5th Generation Mobile Communication (5G), Augmented Reality (AR), and hologram technology.

The eight immersive contents include ▲ 'Gwanghwa Pungnyu (光化風流),' a real-time performance connecting virtual and reality, space and people ▲ 'Gwanghwa Won (光化園),' a garden for rest and recovery in the city ▲ 'Gwanghwa In (光化人),' AI information content realized through holograms ▲ 'Gwanghwa Jeoncha (光化電車),' an amusement ride exploring the time and space of Gwanghwamun ▲ 'Gwanghwa Su (光化樹),' a forest of hashtags that changes in real time based on citizens’ empathy ▲ 'Gwanghwa Dam (光化談),' a mission game searching for hidden stories of Gwanghwamun ▲ 'Gwanghwa Gyeong (光化鏡),' which travels through past, present, and future to discover Gwanghwamun’s history and hidden stories ▲ and 'Gwanghwa Byeokhwa (光化壁),' a canvas for media art creators worldwide. Two main sites are prepared: the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History where Gwanghwa Byeokhwa is installed, and the underground 'Metro Art Museum' at Gyeongbokgung Station where Gwanghwa Won and Gwanghwa In are set up.

The Ministry and the Korea Creative Content Agency will unveil the eight immersive contents in small groups and sequentially to prevent COVID-19. Starting with 'Gwanghwa Pungnyu' on the 17th, 'Gwanghwa Won' and 'Gwanghwa In' will be available by mid-January next year, 'Gwanghwa Jeoncha,' 'Gwanghwa Su,' 'Gwanghwa Dam,' and 'Gwanghwa Gyeong' in early February, and 'Gwanghwa Byeokhwa' by the end of February.

'Gwanghwa Pungnyu' features performances under two themes. The first theme, '5G Real-time Street Performance,' connects musicians from famous Korean tourist spots such as Seoul (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts), Gyeongju (Gyeongju Tower), Jeonju (Jeonju Sago), and Cheorwon (Caravan Camping Site) using 5G technology to present a real-time collaborative stage. Notably, this performance is realized as a media facade on the outer wall of the Sejong Center’s courtyard, allowing audiences to enjoy it as a single performance despite physical distance. Performers include ▲ Song Sohee ▲ Second Moon ▲ Lia Kim and Hyojin Choi from 1MILLION Dance Studio ▲ Nerd Connection.

The second theme, 'Online Extended Reality (XR) Real-time Performance,' features popular K-pop artists such as ▲ Psy ▲ The Boyz ▲ Simon Dominic ▲ AOMG’s Loco, Gray, and Woo Won-jae, delivering a spectacular stage against a virtual Gwanghwamun background created with Unreal Engine. This performance is Korea’s first 'virtual real-time performance' utilizing XR technology.

'Gwanghwa Pungnyu' can be viewed from 6 p.m. on the 17th through various online channels including the Korea Creative Content Agency’s YouTube channel, Naver Now, M2, and Mnet K-Pop YouTube channels. It can also be enjoyed live at the Sejong Center courtyard. However, to prevent COVID-19, audience numbers are limited to 70, and all attendees must complete electronic entry logs. Entry is allowed only to those who have completed their second vaccine dose or present a negative PCR test certificate. There are no seats; all attendees must stand and maintain a 2-meter distance, watching only from designated spots marked with stickers under the guidance of on-site staff.