Korean National Reconstruction Posters (1950s–1970s)

These posters were produced by South Korean government ministries during the post–Korean War reconstruction period. They promoted public health, literacy campaigns, industrial labor, and later the Saemaul (New Village) Movement. Their visual language—bold primary colors, simplified figures, and declarative typography—reflects a nation attempting to rebuild its identity after war and poverty.

Graphic design functioned as a tool of nation-building, shaping the image of the “modern, diligent citizen” and constructing a unified cultural identity during rapid modernization.

These posters represent one of the earliest moments when graphic design in Korea operated as a state instrument for defining national identity. They reveal how visual communication was used to mobilize citizens and articulate a vision of a new Korea.