‘Cheonrok’ Guarding Gyeongbokgung Palace to Be Featured at Cultural Heritage Administration’s Silgam Nuri Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] The Cultural Heritage Administration and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation will open ‘Silgam Nuri-gwan,’ the nation’s first web-based immersive cultural heritage content online experience center, on the 31st.

Co-produced by the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, Silgam Nuri-gwan is a comprehensive online experience center where various types of immersive content can be enjoyed in one place. It offers tangible, intangible, and natural heritage immersive content realized through various technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality (VR·AR), and three-sided video, allowing users to select and experience according to their preferences.

Unlike other existing experiential programs that required downloading a dedicated application or preparing separate devices to view augmented reality content, the Cultural Heritage Immersive Nuri-gwan adopts ‘Web XR (Web eXtended Reality) technology,’ enabling anyone to easily enjoy augmented reality simply by accessing the mobile website. It can be accessed via mobile devices and personal computers (PCs) that meet minimum specifications, and users can freely explore the 360-degree virtual space using mouse wheel, keyboard, or mobile touch functions.

In particular, the ‘Gyeongbokgung Yeongjegyo Cheonrok’ augmented reality pieces, which attracted attention as a media experience at Incheon International Airport, have been incorporated as moving forms in a 3D asset program, recreating the vividness as if Cheonrok is right in front of you. Additionally, 74 types of volumetric and latest augmented reality technology-based 3D cultural heritage models can also be found in Silgam Nuri-gwan.

Users can access Silgam Nuri-gwan directly or through the websites of the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Cultural Heritage Channel. Furthermore, from March 31 to April 8, a nine-day visit certification event will be held to celebrate the opening of Silgam Nuri-gwan, offering beverage gift certificates through a lottery event.

The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "In a situation where outdoor activities are difficult due to COVID-19, we will further expand Silgam Nuri-gwan so that the public can feel the emotions experienced at cultural sites online," adding, "We will continue to provide sustainable points of contact with cultural heritage through newly developed technologies such as the metaverse and virtual spaces so that everyone can easily enjoy cultural heritage."