Hanbat Library to Hold "Imaginary Animals of Korea" Exhibition Showcasing Mystical Beings from Traditional Culture

Photo by Daejeon City

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Hanbat Library (Director Lee Kiyoung) will host the exhibition "Imaginary Animals of Korea" at the main building's first-floor exhibition hall from February 1 to February 28, 2026.

This exhibition features works by illustrator and essayist Lee Hyeri, who visualizes imaginary animals passed down through Korean traditional culture as infographic illustrations.

Each piece provides background stories and symbolic meanings of these imaginary animals, allowing visitors to explore how the thoughts and values of our ancestors are reflected in them.

The exhibition introduces imaginary animals that have long held special symbolic meanings in Korea, such as the phoenix representing an era of peace and prosperity, the three-headed, one-legged bird Samduiljok-eung that wards off evil spirits, and the heavenly horse Cheonma that soars through the sky.

The exhibition aims to rediscover these mysterious beings, which are familiar yet gradually fading from everyday life, and to shed new light on the imaginative spirit of Korean traditional culture.

Lee Kiyoung, Director of Hanbat Library in Daejeon City, stated, "I hope this exhibition will allow visitors to encounter these imaginary beings with a modern sensibility and naturally understand the history, ideas, and philosophy of our ancestors," adding, "It will be an opportunity to experience the rich imagination and cultural depth of Korean traditional culture."

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