Production Design: Scene Architects Build On-Screen Worlds

Production Design: Scene Architects Build On-Screen Worlds brings to life the artistry behind some of the most striking films in contemporary Korean cinema. This exhibition delves into how visionary production designers—Ryu Seong-hee (Decision to Leave (2022), The Handmaiden (2016)), Cho Hwa-sung (Hansan: Rising Dragon (2022)), and Han Ah-reum (Kill Boksoon (2023), Kingmaker (2022))—transform words on a page into unforgettable moving images.

Explore original production materials, from early concept sketches to detailed set designs, and see how stories, characters, and moods take shape through their creative process. Each project offers a unique visual journey, inviting you to discover a new way of experiencing the magic and aesthetics of cinema.

Production Design in Korean Film History

Production design serves to visually interpret a film, overseeing its overall appearance — its visuals and look — to articulate the story and worldview through a distinct visual language.

Until the early 1990s, it was common practice in Korean cinema for assistant directors to handle art-related tasks, including sets and props. This began to change with Blue in You (1992, directed by Lee Hyun-seung), which introduced Korea’s first formal ‘art direction system. Following the film’s commercial and artistic success, the Korean filmmaking landscape started to evolve, and by the mid to late 1990s, the concept of production design became firmly established.

Since the 2000s, Korean films have risen in international stature, winning awards at major film festivals around the world. At the core of this success lies the pivotal role of production design in achieving cinematic artistry. As ultra-high-definition digital cinematography became standard, demands for more intricate and realistic visuals grew, alongside audiences’ heightened expectations for aesthetic accomplishment. Responding to these shifts, recent Korean film production design has garnered acclaim both domestically and abroad, including honors such as the Vulcan Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Presented in partnership with the Korean Film Archive, this exhibition was supported by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) as part of “Touring K-Arts” project.

Image Credit: Installation View at the Korean Film Museum, 2023. Courtesy of the Korean Film Archive