Mickey Mouse has appeared at Deoksugung Palace. Standing atop a metal sculpture, Mickey boldly marches across a pond, while inside the Dondeokjeon Hall, he and his friends, dressed in hanbok, explore the royal grounds depicted in a folding screen featuring Sipjangsaengdo, South Korea’s traditional paintings of the ten symbols of longevity.
The special Disney exhibition “Mickey in the Palace: Art Beyond Boundaries” is currently underway at South Korea’s royal palace Deoksugung in central Seoul. The exhibition showcases Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, blending with royal heritage through the perspectives of young Korean artists. This marks the first project following the agreement between Walt Disney Company Korea and the Korea Heritage Service last June.
Artist Wooh Na-young, also known as Obsidian, created “Mickeyjangsaengdo,” inspired by Sipjangsaengdo. The artwork tells the story of Mickey and his friends exploring the palace and experiencing Korean culture. “I depicted Mickey in black and white as if he had arrived in Korea 100 years ago by steamboat,” Wooh said. “Over time, modern-day Mickey and his friends are shown taking selfies in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace’s Geunjeongjeon Hall, all illustrated in comic-strip style across a six-panel folding screen.” At the pond called Yeonji, near Deoksugung’s main Daehanmun Gate, artist Kang Jae-won installed a sculpture that gives the impression of Mickey Mouse walking atop a bird-shaped metal structure.
Artist Jang Jin-seung collaborates with Ahn Yu-jin, a holder of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage of dancheong, to create a piece depicting Mickey’s hands performing sign language. The gloved hands of Mickey are adorned with traditional Korean dancheong patterns, elegantly fusing tradition with a modern aesthetic. Jill Chen, head of Consumer Products at Walt Disney Company Korea, said at the opening ceremony, “As Korea has become a cultural exchange hub fueled by the popularity of K-content and K-pop, we’re delighted to bring Disney’s ‘magic’ here.” The exhibition runs until October 20 and is free of charge, with an entrance fee of 1,000 won for Deoksugung.
