This post was created as part of Nexon PEAK activities.

One of the Nexon Foundation’s social contribution initiatives, 보더리스, is a project that brings games together with arts and culture. It provides creators with Nexon game content as a source of artistic inspiration and helps bring the new and diverse works they create to a wider audience.

This year’s 보더리스 exhibition celebrates the 30th anniversary of The Kingdom of the Winds. An internal competition using The Kingdom of the Winds IP was held for students in the Department of Traditional Arts and Crafts at the Korea National University of Heritage and qualified traditional craft practitioners, including heritage repair technicians and craftspeople. The exhibition features works by 5 selected teams, with merchandise based on their works available for purchase.

There are also 보더리스 exhibition events to look forward to. The exhibition promises an enjoyable visit for The Kingdom of the Winds players and anyone interested in traditional Korean culture. For more information, please visit the official 보더리스 website.

Venue: Gyejodang Hall, Gyeongbokgung Palace

Dates: 2026 9/9 (Wed) ~ 2026 9/21 (Mon)

Exhibition hours: 9:30 a.m. ~ 5:30 p.m. (Last admission to Gyeongbokgung Palace at 5 p.m.; closed on Tuesdays)

Exhibition admission: Free (Gyeongbokgung Palace admission is 3,000 won; free for visitors aged 24 and under)

Learning about the works in advance can make your visit to the 보더리스 exhibition even more enjoyable.

Let’s take a closer look at the works on display.

Exhibited Works

[Work] Dry lacquer and lacquer craft

A Rogue Rides the Wind

This work draws on the Rogue, a signature class in The Kingdom of the Winds, and the game’s iconic NPC, the squirrel. It vividly captures a tense standoff as a squirrel rogue prepares to raid a corrupt official’s storehouse.

Built on traditional dry lacquer techniques, the work employs a variety of lacquer techniques, including raw, black, colored, and oil-blended lacquer. It also combines a range of traditional materials, such as mother-of-pearl, paulownia wood, and brass sheet.

[Artists]

Yang Ho-seong: A certified heritage repair craftsperson in lacquerwork whose practice focuses on dry lacquer sculpture

Choi Ho-ryeong: A certified heritage repair craftsperson in lacquerwork, gilding, and conservation treatment who works with a variety of materials, particularly metal and enamel

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

[Viewing Highlights]

The squirrel’s stripes feature shimmering mother-of-pearl and richly colored lacquer—take a closer look at these details.

As you view the squirrel turned rogue raiding a corrupt official’s storehouse, imagine the tension of the moment.

[Work] Ceramics and traditional roof tiles

Guardian Divine Beasts Watching Over the Realm

This work draws on the Four Divine Beasts’ role as guardians of beginners in The Kingdom of the Winds. It imagines their protection extending into the real world—a wish embodied in the piece. It consists of the Four Divine Beasts and paving bricks. The Four Divine Beasts draw on depictions of the four guardians in Goguryeo tomb murals, while the paving bricks were inspired by the floor tiles in the spaces where the Four Divine Beasts reside in The Kingdom of the Winds.

The work offers a fresh interpretation of traditional roof guardian figurines combined with the sculptural qualities of ceramic imagery. Coarse, sandy roof-tile clay is layered over the clear, refined tones of white porcelain, highlighting the distinctive material qualities of traditional architecture. Tiles featuring three patterns and colors from the game are combined with traditional paving brick forms. Different clay types and firing methods give each its own color and texture.

[Artists]

Lee Sol-chan: Has completed certified training in Sagijang, a National Intangible Heritage pottery tradition, and creates ceramic works using clay as a medium

Kim Jeong-woo: Has completed certified training in Jewajang, a National Intangible Heritage roof-tile-making tradition, and works as a ceramic artist using traditional roof-tile materials and production methods

[Viewing Highlights]

Enjoy discovering elements from the game, and look closely at the texture of the clay and the traces of hand shaping.

Observe how a new sculptural language emerges as traditional materials and techniques meet contemporary game content.

[Work] Illustration using traditional painting techniques

Collars Embracing the Wind

These illustrations depict the Four Divine Beasts from The Kingdom of the Winds through personification, presenting them as figures in traditional dress. Each character is reinterpreted through the direction, color, and symbolism associated with its divine beast. The human figures appear on the front, with their original divine beast forms on the back, expressing the connection between the two.

The figures wear the celestial robes of immortals against a background of clouds, creating a mythical atmosphere. Their billowing garments visually convey the double meaning of “baram” in the title—wind and wishes—and a sense of dynamism. Using traditional painting pigments on silk, the work captures the deep, subtle tones of the four directional colors (blue, black, white, and red) that symbolize the Four Divine Beasts.

[Artist]

Kim Hee-seon: An illustrator rooted in traditional painting who presents Korean colors and humorous stories from a personal perspective

[Viewing Highlights]

Focus on the distinctive directional colors used to represent each of the Four Divine Beasts.

Each character conceals a different form of The Kingdom of the Winds—enjoy discovering them one by one.

[Work] Dancheong and traditional painting

The Myriad Forms of 용전설

This work depicts 용전설, a boss monster from The Kingdom of the Winds, through traditional Korean dancheong and painting techniques, reimagining its form. Drawing on the distinctive visual beauty of dancheong and the symbolism of the five directional colors, it brings the game’s four dragons to life in a painting.

By combining traditional painting techniques used in traditional architecture, Buddhist painting, and dancheong with contemporary game content, the work explores how Korean cultural heritage can connect naturally with today’s visual culture.

[Artists]

Ahn Yu-jin: A certified heritage repair painter who has completed Dancheongjang training and works with the techniques and aesthetics of traditional dancheong

Lee Dong-min: A certified heritage repair painter with an interest in traditional painting materials and methods of expression who conducts ongoing research into dancheong

[Viewing Highlights]

First view the work from a distance, then move closer to examine the rich colors created by layering traditional pigments and the distinctive texture of the hemp fabric. Notice how the angle of the light changes the shimmer of the gold leaf and silver leaf, revealing their delicate detailing.

[Work] Traditional embroidery

A Pointed Pouch Filled with the Wishes of a Squirrel and Rabbit

This work features the squirrel and rabbit from The Kingdom of the Winds embroidered onto a traditional Korean pointed pouch, whose two corners rise to points, as symbols of good fortune. It combines characters from The Kingdom of the Winds with traditional motifs to convey their symbolic meanings. On the back, the outline of The Kingdom of the Winds logo, usually depicted in black, is embroidered in gold thread, adding subtle, elegant depth.

The squirrel appears alongside grapevines to symbolize wealth and prosperity and flourishing descendants. The rabbit is embroidered with the moon and a pine tree symbolizing longevity. For The Kingdom of the Winds, which celebrates 30 years of service this year, this pairing expresses a wish that the game will continue to be loved for many years to come.

[Artist]

Ahn Eun-jeong : A traditional embroidery artist with 14 years of experience and an ongoing practice spanning embroidered pouches, rank badges, wrapping cloths, and other works

[Viewing Highlights]

Explore how game characters and traditional motifs come together in harmony on a traditional Korean pointed pouch.

In addition to the 5 competition-winning works, 10 works by students in the Department of Traditional Arts and Crafts will also be exhibited.

There promises to be plenty to enjoy.

보더리스 Exhibition Events

■ On-site Event: Web Catalog Missions

Event period: 2026 9/9 (Wed) ~ 2026 9/21 (Mon)

Event reward: An exhibition ticket with a coupon for an in-game item in The Kingdom of the Winds

Scan the QR code at the venue to access the exhibition’s web catalog. Take on the role of a traveling squirrel merchant and complete 5 missions related to the works. Then visit the reward station in front of Gyejodang Hall and show the squirrel’s message to receive an exhibition ticket.

The back of the exhibition ticket has a coupon code for The Kingdom of the Winds. Enter it to receive the Mount: Squirrel Pointed Pouch.

■ 보더리스 Instagram: Photo Zone Event

Event period: 2026 9/9 (Wed) ~ 2026 9/21 (Mon)

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

Winners announced: 9/22 (Tue) on the Nexon Foundation’s Instagram Stories

Take a photo of your exhibition visit and use one of these hashtags: #이립의바람전통을잇다, #보더리스전시, #바람의나라전시

Upload it with your chosen hashtag to your Instagram feed or Stories. After the exhibition ends, 10 people will be selected to receive a 보더리스 mother-of-pearl passport case as a gift.

■ 보더리스 Instagram: Comment Event

Event period: 2026 9/7 (Mon) ~ 2026 9/21 (Mon)

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

Winners announced: 9/22 (Tue) on the Nexon Foundation’s Instagram Stories

Visit 보더리스 on Instagram and choose the one work you would most like to own from the 보더리스 traditional craft pieces inspired by The Kingdom of the Winds. Share the reason for your choice in a comment. After the exhibition ends, 20 people will be selected to receive a 보더리스 mother-of-pearl passport case as a gift.

■ Nexon Play: Share What You’re Looking Forward to at the 보더리스 Exhibition

Event period: 2026 9/1 (Tue) ~ 2026 9/21 (Mon)

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

Winners announced: 9/29 (Tue), via a Nexon Play announcement

Open the Nexon Play app and visit the Nexon Play Team’s official friend feed. Share what you are looking forward to about the exhibition [Winds at Thirty, Connecting Tradition] in a comment on the event post in Nexon Play’s official feed. From those who leave thoughtful comments, 20 people will be selected to receive a Four Divine Beasts keyring inspired by the 보더리스 works.

왈숙’s General Store: The Kingdom of the Winds 보더리스 Merchandise

Alongside the 15 exhibited works, the 보더리스 exhibition also features 19 types of The Kingdom of the Winds 보더리스 merchandise specially designed around the works. These are not available for purchase on-site, but can be ordered through the idus website. A portion of the proceeds will go toward supporting the ongoing creative work of participating 보더리스 artists.

Image sources: 보더리스 website, 보더리스 Instagram, idus website, The Kingdom of the Winds website