Ulsan Metropolitan City will release the “Banguchun Rock Art Emoticons” for free on November 19, sharing once again the significance of the site’s World Heritage inscription with citizens. The new emoticon set, titled “Human History Engraved in Stone,” marks the third installment in the series.
Created to make Ulsan’s cultural heritage more accessible and familiar to the public, the series has gained strong attention since its first release last year, and a high number of participants is expected again.
 [ The Korean Today ] Selected Emoticons Celebrating the UNESCO Listing of the Banguchun Rock Art © 정소영 기자 |
Ulsan has been actively promoting the Banguchun Rock Art (Daegokcheon Petroglyphs) following its inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The emoticons, which reinterpret core rock-art images through a modern digital format, proved highly popular during the initial two releases, with all available downloads claimed almost immediately.
Building on that momentum, the third series is also drawing significant interest from users. Beginning at 2 p.m. on November 19, the emoticons will be available to the first 50,000 KakaoTalk users who add Ulsan’s official online webzine “Hello Ulsan.” Once downloaded, the set can be used for 30 days.
The new “Human History Engraved in Stone” series centers on Haeuli, Ulsan’s official mascot. The character reflects symbolic elements of the petroglyphs, expressing various emotions and movements while transforming the distinct imagery of the Banguchun rock art into a modern, friendly style.
According to Ulsan City, the design process emphasized expressive facial features and dynamic motions to ensure the emoticons could convey the meaning of the World Heritage inscription in a way that feels natural in everyday conversations. This approach is expected to help users across the country recognize the cultural value of the site more easily and intuitively.
The Banguchun petroglyphs are considered one of Korea’s most representative prehistoric artworks, depicting fish, deer, geometric patterns and other motifs that illustrate the lives of early human communities. Ulsan sees great value in converting this historical heritage into digital content, as it helps broaden cultural identity and strengthen public awareness.
The timing of the release also coincides with the official ceremony celebrating the World Heritage inscription, scheduled for November 18 at Lotte Hotel Ulsan, further amplifying the meaning of the occasion.
An Ulsan City official emphasized the importance of the project, stating, “The Banguchun Rock Art is a World Heritage treasure that represents both Ulsan and the traces of humanity. We hope this emoticon series will help promote Ulsan’s cultural heritage nationwide.”
The official added, “We will continue producing diverse online content to ensure that the significance of the World Heritage inscription can be felt in everyday life.” Additional heritage information is available on the Cultural Heritage Administration website.
More than a simple character set, the Banguchun Rock Art emoticons serve as an interactive tool that reinterprets a World Heritage Site for the digital age. By using these emoticons in their daily KakaoTalk conversations, citizens naturally share and spread the cultural symbolism of the petroglyphs. This is expected to further elevate the recognition of Ulsan’s cultural heritage and inspire more visits and public interest nationwide.
BY Jeong So-young: ulsangangbuk@thekoreantoday.com
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