[This post was created as part of Nexon PEAK activities.]

Hello, I'm 꽤돼.

Marking 30 years of service this year, The Kingdom of the Winds is revealing a new side of itself through a distinctive exhibition.

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The exhibition brings together emerging traditional craft artists, each offering their own interpretation of the game's characters and world.

“Winds at Thirty, Carrying Tradition Forward,” a collaboration between Nexon Foundation's community initiative Borderless, The Kingdom of the Winds, and Korea National University of Heritage, is currently on view at Gyejodang Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace.

The Kingdom of the Winds Meets Traditional Crafts for Its 30th Anniversary

Rooted in traditional Korean culture and sensibilities, The Kingdom of the Winds marks 30 years of service this year.

The exhibition celebrates that milestone while also giving emerging artists a new source of creative inspiration in The Kingdom of the Winds IP.

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The expression “irip (而立)” in the exhibition's Korean title refers to turning thirty.

It feels like a fitting title for The Kingdom of the Winds, which is taking on a new form through traditional crafts after 30 years.

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The exhibition is part of Borderless, Nexon Foundation's arts and culture initiative supporting the community.

Borderless goes beyond providing game IP as material for exhibitions. It helps emerging artists draw creative inspiration from that IP and expands opportunities for artists to create and exhibit their work, and for audiences to enjoy it.

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For this exhibition, students from Korea National University of Heritage with expertise in traditional crafts—including certified national heritage repair technicians and craftspeople, as well as graduates of national intangible heritage training programs—have reinterpreted the world of The Kingdom of the Winds through their art.

On View at Gyejodang Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace Through September 21

The exhibition is held at Gyejodang Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Category	Details
Exhibition Title	Winds at Thirty, Carrying Tradition Forward
Dates	September 9–September 21, 2026
Venue	Gyejodang Hall, Gyeongbokgung Palace
Opening Hours	9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Last Admission to Gyeongbokgung Palace	5 p.m.
Palace Closed	Tuesdays
Exhibition Admission	Free
Gyeongbokgung Palace Admission	3,000 won
Young Visitors	Free admission to Gyeongbokgung Palace for ages 24 and under

The exhibition itself is free, but a separate admission fee applies to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Visitors can also explore a web catalog that lets them take on the role of a traveling merchant squirrel and complete missions related to the artworks.

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The web catalog is accessible via an on-site QR code. According to the exhibition information, visitors who complete the missions can collect a commemorative exhibition ticket that includes an in-game item coupon for The Kingdom of the Winds at the reward station in front of Gyejodang Hall.

If you plan to visit, I recommend making time for these on-site activities alongside the artworks.

5 Traditional Craft Works Inspired by The Kingdom of the Winds

The exhibition features 5 collaborative works based on The Kingdom of the Winds IP.

Artwork Title	Main Subjects	Participating Artists
The Rogue Rides the Wind	Rogue, squirrel	Yang Ho-seong, Choi Hyo-ryeong, Han Hye-in
Guardian Divine Beasts: Statues Protecting the Realm	Four guardian beasts	Lee Sol-chan, Kim Jeong-woo
A Collar Holding the Wind	Four guardian beasts	Kim Hui-seon
A Panorama of 용전설	용전설	Ahn Yu-jin, Lee Dong-min
A Cornered Pouch Holding the Wishes of a Squirrel and a Rabbit	Squirrel, rabbit	Ahn Eun-jeong

What makes this exhibition particularly interesting is its approach to familiar in-game characters. Rather than simply reproducing them, the artists reinterpret them through a range of traditional craft techniques, including lacquerwork, ceramics, traditional painting, dancheong decorative painting, and embroidery.

용전설 Reimagined Through Traditional Dancheong

Of the works featured in the official materials, the one that caught my eye most was “A Panorama of 용전설.”

Created by artists Ahn Yu-jin and Lee Dong-min, the work depicts 용전설 from The Kingdom of the Winds using the techniques and aesthetics of traditional dancheong.

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Ahn Yu-jin is a certified national heritage repair craftsperson specializing in painting and has completed training in dancheong craftsmanship. Her practice centers on traditional dancheong. Lee Dong-min is also a certified national heritage repair craftsperson specializing in painting and, according to the artist information, continues to study dancheong alongside the materials and expressive techniques of traditional painting.

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The piece reimagines a fantasy monster from the game through dancheong, a familiar feature of traditional Korean architecture. To me, this makes it the clearest expression of the connection between The Kingdom of the Winds and traditional crafts.

Familiar Squirrels and Rabbits in Traditional Embroidery

Another work I would like to highlight is “A Cornered Pouch Holding the Wishes of a Squirrel and a Rabbit.”

Created by artist Ahn Eun-jeong, it features the squirrels and rabbits that have long been familiar sights in The Kingdom of the Winds.

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Ahn Eun-jeong is a traditional embroidery artist with 14 years of experience. Her work spans embroidered pouches, rank badges, wrapping cloths, and more.

Anyone who has played The Kingdom of the Winds has likely encountered these familiar monsters. Seeing them reinterpreted in traditional embroidery on a cornered pouch should be especially engaging for longtime players.

Events to Enjoy Alongside the Exhibition

Beyond viewing the artworks, visitors can take part in missions through the exhibition's web catalog.

After opening the web catalog via a QR code, visitors take on the role of a traveling merchant squirrel, exploring Gyejodang Hall and answering questions about the artworks.

Visitors who complete all the missions can collect a commemorative exhibition ticket that includes an in-game item coupon for The Kingdom of the Winds at the reward station in front of Gyejodang Hall.

The venue also has a photo area, and the Borderless Instagram account is running an event for visitors to share photos of their visit.

If you cannot visit the exhibition, consider the NEXON PLAY event, which invites you to share what you look forward to about the exhibition.

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Links to these events are included at the end of the post.

Borderless Merchandise Featuring the Exhibition Artworks

Browse Borderless Merchandise

A range of Borderless merchandise has also been created using the exhibition's artworks.

You can view the merchandise in person at 왈숙's General Store at the venue, but it is not available for purchase on-site.

The merchandise will be available to purchase through the idus website starting September 9. A portion of the sales proceeds will support the ongoing creative work of artists participating in Borderless.

Supporting emerging artists through merchandise sales extends the initiative beyond a one-time exhibition—an approach that feels well aligned with the purpose of Borderless.

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An Exhibition with Added Appeal for The Kingdom of the Winds Players

This exhibition should appeal to anyone who enjoys traditional crafts, but I would especially recommend it to anyone who has played The Kingdom of the Winds, even once.

Part of the appeal lies in comparing familiar in-game subjects—the rogue, the four guardian beasts, 용전설, squirrels, and rabbits—with the entirely different artworks they have become in the hands of traditional craft artists.

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Even without knowing the game, visitors interested in emerging artists or traditional crafts can appreciate the exhibition as a look at how game IP can inspire new creative work.

There are many ways to celebrate a franchise's 30th anniversary, but connecting the distinctly Korean imagery of The Kingdom of the Winds with traditional crafts makes this exhibition feel particularly fitting.

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If you are planning a visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace or looking for an exhibition to see in September, consider “Winds at Thirty, Carrying Tradition Forward,” on view through September 21.

This is 꽤돼, signing off.

Useful Links

Nexon Foundation: Details on “Winds at Thirty, Carrying Tradition Forward”

Borderless Instagram Event

NEXON PLAY: Share What You Look Forward To

Shop idus X The Kingdom of the Winds X Borderless Merchandise