This post was created as part of Nexon PEAK activities.

Borderless, one of Nexon’s social contribution initiatives, is a project dedicated to bringing games and cultural arts together,

providing creators with Nexon game content as a source of artistic inspiration and supporting wider audiences in experiencing the new and diverse works that emerge through that process.

Marking the 30th anniversary of The Kingdom of the Winds, this year’s Borderless exhibition presents works by 5 selected teams chosen through an internal open call for current students in the Department of Traditional Arts and Crafts at the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, as well as qualified practitioners in traditional crafts such as National Heritage restoration technicians and artisans, all working with The Kingdom of the Winds IP, and will also offer goods produced from those works. A variety of events related to the Borderless exhibition will also be held, making it a program well worth anticipating. It should be an enjoyable experience not only for players of The Kingdom of the Winds, but also for anyone with an interest in Korean traditional culture.

Venue: Gyejodang Hall, Gyeongbokgung Palace

Date: September 9, 2026 (Wed) ~ September 21, 2026 (Mon)

Exhibition hours: 9:30 AM ~ 5:30 PM (Last admission to Gyeongbokgung at 5 PM, closed on Tuesdays)

Exhibition admission : Free (However, Gyeongbokgung admission is 3,000 won, free for youth aged 24 and under)

Before visiting the Borderless exhibition, it helps to have some advance information about the exhibited works for an even richer experience.

Here is a closer look at the remarkable works that will be on display.

Exhibited Works

[Work] Geonchil Lacquer Craft

A Thief Riding the Wind

Created around the Thief, one of the signature classes of The Kingdom of the Winds, and the iconic NPC Squirrel, this piece vividly captures the tense moment of a thief squirrel locked in taut confrontation as it attempts to raid a corrupt official’s storehouse.

Built on the traditional geonchil technique, it employs a variety of lacquer techniques including raw lacquer, black lacquer, colored lacquer, and juhapchil, while combining various traditional materials such as mother-of-pearl, paulownia wood, and brass plate.

[Artists]

Yang Ho-seong : Holds National Heritage Restoration Technician certification (lacquerwork), and is primarily active in geonchil sculptural work

Choi Ho-ryeong : Holds National Heritage Restoration Technician certifications (lacquerwork, gilding, conservation treatment), and creates works using a wide range of materials, particularly metal and cloisonné

Han Hye-in : Creates figures and sculptural works based on lacquer, applying traditional lacquer techniques to contemporary forms and characters

[Highlights]

The squirrel’s stripes adorned with gleaming mother-of-pearl, along with the richly colored lacquer, are details worth observing closely

Take in the work while imagining the tension of the squirrel transformed into a thief raiding a corrupt official’s storehouse

[Work] Ceramic Traditional Roof Tile

Guardian Divine Beasts Brick Relief

Created to express the wish that the Four Guardian Beasts, who protect beginners in The Kingdom of the Winds, might also protect us in the real world, this work consists of the Four Guardian Beasts and brick tiles. The Four Guardian Beasts were inspired by the Four Guardian murals in Goguryeo tomb paintings, while the brick tiles were created based on the floor tiles in the in-game space where the Four Guardian Beasts reside.

This work newly combines the decorative roof figures of traditional roof tiles with the sculptural qualities of ceramic iconography; over the clear, restrained tones of white porcelain, rough sandy tile clay was added to emphasize the intrinsic materiality of traditional architectural materials, while the three patterns and colors of tiles appearing in the game were combined with the traditional brick-tile format, and different types of clay and firing methods were used to realize each one’s distinct color and texture.

[Artists]

Lee Sol-chan : Apprentice of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage pottery master, creating ceramic works using clay as a primary medium

Kim Jeong-woo : Apprentice of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage roof-tile master, working as a ceramic artist based on the materials and production methods of traditional roof tiles

[Highlights]

Alongside the pleasure of discovering elements from the game, take a closer look at the texture of the clay and the traces of hand-shaping

Experience how traditional materials and techniques meet contemporary game content and expand into a new sculptural language

[Work] Traditional Painting Illustration

Collars Holding the Wind

This illustrated work personifies the Four Guardian Beasts from The Kingdom of the Winds as figures dressed in traditional attire; each character has been newly reinterpreted based on the direction, color, and symbolism of the respective beast, with the personified figure placed at the front of the composition and the original divine beast form positioned behind to express the connection between human and sacred creature.

To heighten its mythic atmosphere, the figures were dressed in the celestial robes of immortals and clouds were added to the background, while the dramatically billowing hems visually convey both the double meaning of “wind” in the title and a sense of dynamism. Using traditional color pigments on a silk ground, the work realizes the deep yet understated tones of the four directional colors (blue, black, white, red) symbolizing the Four Guardian Beasts.

[Artist]

Kim Hee-seon : An illustrator grounded in traditional painting, expressing Korean colors and witty narratives through the artist’s own perspective

[Highlights]

View the work with a focus on the distinct directional colors expressed differently for each of the Four Guardian Beasts

Each character contains a different form of The Kingdom of the Winds hidden within it, offering the pleasure of discovering them one by one

[Work] Dancheong Traditional Painting

Dragon Legend Manifold Forms

This work reinterprets the boss monster Yongjeonseol from The Kingdom of the Winds through traditional Korean dancheong and painting techniques, newly rendering the four dragons from the game onto the pictorial surface on the basis of the distinctive formative beauty of dancheong and the symbolism of the five cardinal colors.

By combining traditional painting techniques long used in traditional architecture, Buddhist painting, and dancheong with contemporary game content, this work suggests how Korea’s cultural heritage can continue to communicate naturally with today’s visual culture.

[Artists]

Ahn Yu-jin : Holds National Heritage Restoration Technician painter certification and is an apprentice in the dancheong tradition, working on the basis of the techniques and aesthetics of traditional dancheong

Lee Dong-min : Holds National Heritage Restoration Technician painter certification, with an ongoing interest in the materials and methods of expression in traditional painting and continued research into dancheong

[Highlights]

First view the work from a distance, then move closer to observe together the richly layered color created by building up traditional pigments in multiple layers, the distinctive texture revealed on the hemp fabric, and the delicate expression of gold leaf and silver leaf that glimmer differently depending on the angle of light

[Work] Traditional Embroidery

A Pouch Bearing the Wishes of the Squirrel and Rabbit

This work places the Squirrel and Rabbit from The Kingdom of the Winds onto a traditional Korean gwiju머니 pouch with sharply raised ends, conveying auspicious meaning; by combining characters from The Kingdom of the Winds with traditional motifs, it communicates traditional symbolism, while the back of the pouch features the outline of The Kingdom of the Winds logo, usually rendered in black, embroidered in gold thread to add a subtle yet refined sense of dimensionality.

The squirrel is paired with grape vines to embody wealth and the meaning of abundant descendants, while the rabbit is embroidered alongside the moon and a pine tree symbolizing longevity, expressing the wish that The Kingdom of the Winds, which marks its 30th service anniversary this year, will continue to be loved for many years to come.

[Artist]

Ahn Eun-jeong : A traditional embroidery artist with 14 years of experience, continuously active through works including embroidered pouches, rank badges, and wrapping cloths

[Highlights]

Observe how in-game characters and traditional motifs achieve harmony within the traditional Korean gwiju머니 pouch

Which work stands out most to you?

For me, the first work introduced, A Thief Riding the Wind, was especially memorable. Just as its concept suggests, it charmingly captures the tense moment of the thief squirrel through the use of traditional geonchil techniques.

Various Borderless Events

■ On-site Event: Web Catalogue Mission

September 9, 2026 (Wed) ~ September 21, 2026 (Mon) September 9, 2026 (Wed) ~ September 21, 2026 (Mon) September 9, 2026 (Wed) ~ September 21, 2026 (Mon) September 9, 2026 (Wed) ~ September 21, 2026 (Mon) September 9, 2026 (Wed) ~ September 21, 2026 (Mon) September 9, 2026 (Wed) ~ September 21, 2026 (Mon) September 9, 2026 (Wed) ~ September 21, 2026 (Mon) September 9, 2026 (Wed) ~ September 21, 2026 (Mon)Event period : September 9, 2026 (Wed) ~ September 21, 2026 (Mon)

Event prize : Exhibition ticket including a The Kingdom of the Winds in-game item coupon

By scanning the QR code on-site, visitors can access the exhibition web catalogue. After taking on the role of a peddler squirrel and completing 5 missions related to the works, visitors may go to the rewards booth in front of Gyejodang Hall and present the squirrel’s message to receive an exhibition ticket.

The back of the exhibition ticket includes a The Kingdom of the Winds item coupon code.

By entering it, you can receive Mount: Squirrel Gwiju머니.

■ Borderless Instagram: Photo Zone Event

Event period : September 7, 2026 (Mon) ~ September 21, 2026 (Mon)

Event prize : Borderless mother-of-pearl passport case (10 winners)

Winner announcement : September 22 (Tue) via Nexon Foundation Instagram Story

Take an exhibition commemorative photo and upload it to your Instagram feed or story after tagging one of the following hashtags: #이립의바람전통을잇다, #보더리스전시, #바람의나라전시

After the exhibition concludes, 10 people will be selected to receive a Borderless goods mother-of-pearl passport case as a gift.

■ Borderless Instagram: Comment Event

Event period : September 7, 2026 (Mon) ~ September 21, 2026 (Mon)

Event prize : Borderless mother-of-pearl passport case (20 winners)

Winner announcement : September 22 (Tue) via Nexon Foundation Instagram Story

Visit the Borderless Instagram and, among the Borderless traditional craft works inspired by The Kingdom of the Winds,

choose the one work you would most like to own and leave a comment with your reason for choosing it; after the exhibition concludes, 20 participants will be selected to receive a Borderless goods mother-of-pearl passport case as a gift.

■ Nexon Play: Borderless Exhibition Anticipation Comment Event

Event period : September 1, 2026 (Mon) ~ September 21, 2026 (Mon)

Event prize : Four Guardian Beasts clicker keyring, black (20 winners)

Winner announcement : To be announced on September 29 (Tue) through a Nexon Play notice

After accessing the Nexon Play app, visit the official Nexon Play Team friend feed and leave an excited anticipation comment about the [The Wind of Coming of Age, Carrying on Tradition] exhibition on the official Nexon Play feed event post. A total of 20 participants who leave thoughtful comments will be selected to receive a Four Guardian Beasts keyring produced with Borderless works as its motif.

Walsuk’s General Store: The Kingdom of the Winds Borderless Goods

At the Borderless exhibition, visitors can explore not only the five featured works but also The Kingdom of the Winds Borderless goods specially produced based on those exhibition pieces. These goods are not available for on-site purchase and can instead be purchased through the Idus website; part of the proceeds will be allocated to support the continued creative activities of the artists participating in Borderless.