The National Asia Culture Center (ACC), under the leadership of Director Kim Sang-wook, has clinched a Special Jury Award at the 2023 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in the U.S. The ACC’s self-produced VR work, The Forgotten War, secured this accolade in the Extended Reality (XR) Experience category on March 18, as announced by the center on March 22.
SXSW, the world-renowned creative industry festival that converges film, music, and technology, takes place annually in Austin, Texas. The XR Experience competition stands out as a premier showcase for groundbreaking immersive content, offering a glimpse into the future of experiential media.
In a field of 15 nominees, ACC’s entry stood alone as the sole representative from Korea and Asia. By clinching the esteemed Special Jury Award, the ACC has solidified its position as a formidable player in the international creative landscape.
This award-winning project, a collaboration between ACC’s Interactive Arts Lab and acclaimed media artist Kwon Ha-yoon, draws inspiration from the testimonies of Korean War veterans who fought in the decisive Battle of Chipyong-ni. The VR experience employs location-based interactivity, allowing users to engage with virtual characters’ memories, offering a unique perspective on this historical event.
The jury lauded the work for its poignant, humanistic approach to storytelling. By combining physical immersion with personal narratives, the piece invites reflection on the enduring impact of war. This recognition serves as a testament to ACC’s research and development capabilities, now proven to be on par with global standards.
Director Kim expressed his elation at the center’s international success, stating that this achievement on the world stage is a testament to ACC’s innovative cross-disciplinary research. It is committed to further developing our support model that bridges cutting-edge technology and art, cementing the position as a global hub for cultural and artistic excellence.