1988 Seoul Olympic Visual Identity

The 1988 Seoul Olympic visual identity system marked a turning point in Korean graphic design. Combining the traditional Sam-Taegeuk motif with modernist grid-based design, the system included the official emblem, sport pictograms, color standards, and applications across signage, publications, and broadcast graphics.

It represented Korea’s emergence as a modern nation on the global stage and remains one of the most comprehensive visual systems in Korean design history.

This system visually articulated Korea’s national identity during a moment of global visibility. It demonstrates how graphic design can function as cultural diplomacy and as a tool for constructing a modern national image.