Character design and regional identity in Korea since the 1990’s

Character design and regional identity in Korea since the 1990’s

LIM, Sun-Young; KIM, Min-Soo

Article:

The aim of this study is to research the local government-led identity design by analyzing the official characters of the municipalities. After the autonomous local government system launched in 1990’s, each region started to establish a CI (Community Identity) including regional character in order to promote themselves. The competition between governments was so overheated that in about 7 short years, a majority of the municipalities established CIs. The regional characters look very similar to each other in several aspects. And it is apparent that there is a stereotype. Many of them were designed by KIDP (Korea Institute of Design Promotion) and some design companies that are registered with the Institute. The CIs were created and established hastily in a competitive manner without enough deliberation, and discussion by only a handful of companies. As a result, the characters could not successfully embody the true identity of its representative area.

The aim of this study is to research the local government-led identity design by analyzing the official characters of the municipalities. After the autonomous local government system launched in 1990’s, each region started to establish a CI (Community Identity) including regional character in order to promote themselves. The competition between governments was so overheated that in about 7 short years, a majority of the municipalities established CIs. The regional characters look very similar to each other in several aspects. And it is apparent that there is a stereotype. Many of them were designed by KIDP (Korea Institute of Design Promotion) and some design companies that are registered with the Institute. The CIs were created and established hastily in a competitive manner without enough deliberation, and discussion by only a handful of companies. As a result, the characters could not successfully embody the true identity of its representative area.

Palavras-chave:

DOI: 10.5151/despro-icdhs2016-02_020

Referências bibliográficas

• [1] Cho, J. (2007). ‘A Plan on Improving of the Competitiveness for Kyeungsangbuk-do`s Regional Character’, Review of Cultural Economics, Vol.10 (No.2): 15-37.
• [2] Hwang, C. (2002). A study on application of the character design of the local autonomous entity, Diss., Ulsan Univ.
• [3] Lee, Y., Won, Y., Kim, H., Kim, E. and Lee, D. (1999). A Study on Development Plan for Character Industry, Korea Cultural Policy Institute.
• [4] Kim, M. (2009). Korean Urban Design Exploration, Greenbee.
• [5] “Renew Insignia-Symbolic Icon” Changing City Image.” Dong-A Ilbo, May 11, 1996.
• [6] “Competition between Regional Governments to develop Regional Character” Maeil Business Newspaper. Mar. 1, 1999

Como citar:

LIM, Sun-Young; KIM, Min-Soo; "Character design and regional identity in Korea since the 1990’s", p-168-172. In: Wong, Wendy Siuyi; Kikuchi, Yuko & Lin, Tingyi (Eds.). <strong>Making Trans/National Contemporary Design History [=ICDHS 2016 – 10th Conference of the International Committee for Design History & Design Studies]</strong>. São Paulo: Blucher, 2016.
ISSN 23186968, DOI 10.5151/despro-icdhs2016-02_020