Art Token to Debut Jikjisa’s ‘Hwangak-i’ Character, Fortune App ‘Myoyong’ at Gimcheon Gimbap Festival

Art Token, an art-content solutions company, will debut the temple character "Hwangak-i" and the fortune app "Myoyong" at the Gimcheon Gimbap Festival in collaboration with Jikjisa Temple. The company will operate a cultural-experience booth featuring character merchandise, fortune readings, and hands-on programs including traditional liquor and incense making.

Art Token said on Oct. 22 that it will plan and run Jikjisa Temple’s booth at the 2026 Gimcheon Gimbap Festival, to be held in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, from Oct. 23 to Oct. 25. Jikjisa Temple will participate as an official festival organization, while Art Token will oversee character design, merchandise production, brand collaborations, space planning and on-site operations. The festival, which drew 170,000 visitors over two days last year, will be held over three days this year at Jikji Culture Park and the surrounding area of Samyeongdaesa Park.

Hwangak-i is a character based on a blue haetae statue used as the pedestal for a temple drum stand that has been kept by Jikjisa Temple. The name comes from Mount Hwangak, where the temple is located. Art Token created the character and produced T-shirts and key rings reflecting the statue’s features. The original haetae statue, usually kept from public view, will also be displayed free of charge on the second floor of Manseru during the festival.

Doseon, head of Jikjisa Temple’s propagation bureau, who led the character’s development, said Hwangak-i, the blue haetae that had long supported the temple drum, had quietly guarded the sound of Jikjisa. He added that he hopes it will become a symbol of the temple loved across generations.

Myoyong is a service that provides daily fortunes, overall fortunes and detailed readings when users enter their birth date and time of birth. At the festival, four kiosks will offer content in which Hwangak-i delivers the readings. The service is slated to expand into a web app later.

Lee Seung-jin, a director at Art Token, said the company interpreted Jikjisa Temple’s sculptures and stories through characters, products and space, then connected that experience to Myoyong, where the character speaks to visitors. The company focused on creating a booth where people of different generations could naturally spend time while preserving the temple’s identity.

The booth, to be set up in the front courtyard at the entrance to Jikjisa Temple, will also feature Seonsan Jujo, illustration brand Wengeugigeu, fragrance studio Chorokdo and Maeil Dairies. They will present makgeolli, illustrations, incense and sachet-making programs, and beverages, while Daewoong Pharmaceutical will sponsor health functional foods. Art Token and participating brands plan to donate part of the operating proceeds to Jikjisa Temple to help neighbors in need.

Hong Ji-sook, chief executive officer of Art Token, said expanding traditional cultural assets into character IP and digital content is the area the company does best. Starting with its collaboration with Jikjisa Temple, Art Token will continue projects that connect cultural assets and technology, she said.