A Study on Character Design Utilizing Traditional Costumes : Focusing on the Clothing and Attire of the Joseon Dynasty in Jongno-gu

This study aims to develop character designs for tourism and promotional use by reinterpreting the symbolic and structural elements of traditional Korean clothing and historical figures from the Joseon Dynasty. Joseon-era attire served not only as clothing but also as a visual system encoding social hierarchy, political authority, and cultural identity. Recognizing its symbolic potential, this study constructs a character series based on three primary archetypes—military officers, civil officials, and royal figures—and redesigns their traditional costumes (silhouettes, colors, patterns, accessories) through contemporary visual principles. The research methodology integrates precedent case analysis, current character design trend studies, and user-centered evaluations including surveys and interviews with stakeholders. The resulting character designs employ SD (super-deformed) proportions (approx. 1:3.5), a color scheme derived from traditional Obangsaek, and vectorized motifs to ensure clarity, versatility, and symbolic consistency across character groups. These designs are optimized for OSMU (One Source Multi Use) application in various formats, including cultural souvenirs, festival branding, public visuals, and digital media such as AR content. Rather than being limited to a specific region, the characters are designed to be culturally adaptable and applicable across multiple local contexts. This study contributes to the sustainable development of regional identity and cultural communication by presenting a scalable design model rooted in traditional symbolism and heritage visualization.