BTS's "ARIRANG" Meets Joseon Munjado... 13 National Museum Goods Released

National Museum Culture Foundation and HYBE Collaborate on “Dalmajung X MU:DS”
A New Interpretation of Hangeul Letter Paintings
Featuring Motifs of “Hyeungjeukdaegil” and Symbols of Longevity
Porcelain, Amulet Magnets, and Mini Brooms Among the Collection

BTS's music has been combined with Joseon Dynasty munjado (letter paintings). A total of 13 museum cultural products that integrate the message of BTS's 5th full album “ARIRANG” with traditional letter paintings have been released.

‘2026 BTS Dalmajoong X MU:DS’ Pollock-shaped talisman magnet. A collaborative product combining the message of BTS’s 5th full album ‘Arirang,’ Joseon dynasty munjado (paintings of letters), and traditional auspicious imagery. National Museum Cultural Foundation

The National Museum Culture Foundation announced on September 29 that it would begin offering the “2026 BTS DALMAJUNG X MU:DS,” developed in collaboration with HYBE.

‘Dalmajung’ is an official product series combining the aesthetic of Korean traditional culture with the BTS brand. First introduced in 2021, this marks the fourth series this year. The collaboration between the National Museum Culture Foundation and HYBE is the second, following the partnership in 2024.

This year, marking the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day, the design incorporates the expressive style of traditional “munjado,” which have typically used Chinese characters, into the Korean alphabet (Hangeul). The core motifs were drawn from the messages in BTS's 5th full album “ARIRANG” and Joseon late 19th-century letter paintings held by the National Museum of Korea.

Munjado are artworks depicting stories or symbols related to the meaning of each character, often illustrated within the character's brushstrokes. They became popular from the late 18th through the 19th centuries. The munjado that inspired this collaboration features the eight characters for “Hyo (filial piety), Je (brotherly love), Chung (loyalty), Shin (trustworthiness), Ye (propriety), Ui (righteousness), Yeom (integrity), and Chi (sense of shame).”

The Foundation and HYBE added ten symbols of longevity, including the crane, deer, and clouds, and created a new graphic for “Hangeul munjado” by combining the words “BTS,” “Arirang,” and “Hyeungjeukdaegil” in Hangeul.

The ‘2026 BTS Dalmajung X MU:DS’ mini broom, presented jointly by the National Museum Culture Foundation and HYBE, reinterprets the Joseon Dynasty's munjado painting style and traditional elements wishing for warding off evil and blessings in a modern way. National Museum Culture Foundation

The phrase “Hyeungjeukdaegil,” which appears in the ARIRANG track “Aliens” by BTS, was also used as a major motif. The product design expresses the meaning that adversity can be transformed into great luck and fortune.

The collection consists of 13 items, including a porcelain jar, pollack-shaped amulet magnets, an air pouch set, a mini broom, and accessories. It is notable for transforming traditional protective and good-luck symbols into everyday products.

Jung Yongseok, President of the National Museum Culture Foundation, said, “Munjado are a unique formative art of our traditional culture that expresses values and aspirations for life through letterforms and image. I hope this collaboration will provide a friendly opportunity for people overseas to experience the beauty of Hangeul and our cultural heritage.”

The collaborative products will be available for purchase at the National Museum of Korea’s gift shop from September 29. Of the 13 products, 12 will be sold until November 29, and from that date, they can also be purchased through HYBE’s global superfans platform Weverse Shop. HYBE will also operate a pop-up store on the first floor of its Yongsan headquarters in Seoul until October 11.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.