BTS’s official merchandise series DALMAJUNG is set to unveil a new design that blends Hangul with traditional calligraphy art.
The National Museum of Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation (the Foundation) introduced the 2026 BTS DALMAJUNG [DALMAJUNG] X MU:DS on Tuesday, a collaboration with HYBE.
DALMAJUNG, which debuted in 2021, is an official merchandise line that captures the essence of Korean traditional culture and BTS’s brand value. Now in its fourth series, the Foundation has once again partnered with HYBE to develop this year’s collection, following their initial collaboration in 2024.
This year’s release is particularly significant as it marks the 100th anniversary of Hangul Day. The project innovatively applies the traditional munjado (character painting) technique, typically used with Chinese characters, to Hangul, showcasing its artistic beauty. Inspiration was drawn from the lyrics of BTS’s fifth studio album ARIRANG and late 19th-century munjado pieces from the National Museum of Korea’s collection.
Munjado, an art form that flourished from the late 18th to 19th centuries, incorporates ancient tales related to character meanings within the strokes of Chinese characters. The munjado inspiring this collaboration features eight virtues: filial piety, brotherly love, loyalty, trust, courtesy, righteousness, integrity, and shame. This unique art form combines characters and images to visually convey deeper meanings and values.
The Foundation and HYBE have given a modern twist to this traditional calligraphy style. They’ve created new Hangul munjado graphics that merge design elements like cranes, deer, and clouds with phrases such as BTS, ARIRANG, and 흉즉대길 (meaning misfortune leads to great fortune) for use in their product designs.
Jeong Yong-seok, president of the Foundation, commented that munjado represents a distinctive artistic expression in the traditional culture, conveying life’s values and aspirations through characters and images. It hopes this collaboration will provide a more accessible way for international audiences to appreciate the beauty of Hangul and the cultural heritage.
