What do you have for us today, Yoo-jin?
We often hear about how Korean culture is putting Korea on the map.
But today, I have a story of an illustrator who’s quite literally putting Korea on a map.
Take a look.
You know Gwanghwamun Gate, but you’ve never seen it quite like this.
This is how UK-based map artist Jenni Sparks reimagined one of Seoul’s most iconic landmarks.
For over a decade, her hand-drawn maps have covered major cities across the West, such as London, New York, Paris, and Berlin.
Now, she’s turning her creative compass toward Asia, starting with Seoul.
“The traditional architecture is extremely different from all the cities that I’ve done before. I think, also like the actual geography of the place, it’s got like it’s very like mountainous, including actually in like the middle of the city.”
This idea sparked when Seol Jae-woo, who runs a local tour business in Seoul, reached out to Sparks a few years ago.
“Maps are usually seen as just information, useful in the moment but often forgotten after. Jenni Sparks’ map, however, felt like a work of art.
So I thought, what if we could create a map people would treasure, one that tells a story of the place they live?”
That question led to Sparks creating a map of Seoul’s Seochon neighborhood before setting her sights on the entire city.
It’s halfway done, but already, you can see what makes her maps so unique.
It’s not just the pop art-style design or the bold use of color but the sheer level of detail, including hidden gems like Tongin Market in Jongno-gu District.
That insight comes from her rigorous research, her first and most important step, through books and videos.
She then sketches out the bones of the city, rivers, mountains, parks, and metro lines before layering in Seoul’s soul.
“I will usually ask people from that city and say, ‘Is this right?’ or ‘Take a look at this.’
Is there anything you’re like, ‘This is absolutely wrong, like no, what you’ve forgotten this building is this is a really famous cafe, this is a really famous restaurant.’ And then right at the end, it’s just kind of just drawing like lots of residential buildings.”
It’s a challenging process that takes months, but the map, in the end, becomes something more than directions.
It becomes a story, one you can hold in your hands and revisit.
A map that encompasses art, story telling, along with giving the right information of course.
So the Seoul map is still a work in progress.
When can we expect to see the finished version?
I asked Ms. Sparks the same question, and she told me it should be sometime this summer.
But as with most creative projects, it’s hard to give an exact timeline, because she’s starting with a completely blank sheet of paper and building everything from scratch, so it could take more time.
One of the final steps in her process, as mentioned in my report, is to talk to locals to make sure all the important places and details are accurately captured.
Which is why she’s considering visiting Seoul towards the end of the project, to walk around and make some final touches in person.
And while we wait for the Seoul map, we do already have her completed Seochon map.
For anyone curious about it, what are some highlights or details to look out for?
Ms. Sparks says she likes the area she drew around Tongin Market, the Seochon gallery district, and Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Mr. Seol pointed out the small neighborhood shops and the tiger statue on Inwangsan Mountain, details that show just how intricately her maps are researched and drawn.
And to our viewers, if you have suggestions for places to include on her Seoul map, Ms. Sparks told me she’s happy to hear them.
You can visit her official website to learn more and get in touch.
Yoo-jin, thank you for your report today.
Source : Arirang TV, https://www.arirang.com/news/view?id=282480
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