Nexon Games peeled back the curtain on August 21, revealing how they are crafting the Joseon-era fantasy world for their upcoming title, Woochi the Wayfarer.

Mok Young-mi, Art Director at Nexon Games' Lorevault Studio, took the stage at Unreal Fest Seoul 2026 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas on August 21 to share some hard-won insights into their art direction.

Under the title 'Woochi the Wayfarer: Why doesn't the Joseon in-game look like Joseon? Redefining Korean fantasy art direction with UE5,' Mok Young-mi detailed the challenges of developing this niche genre and the team’s tactical use of Unreal Engine 5.

The art team kicked things off by sharing their rigorous process of researching and interpreting Hanbok, facial features, landscapes, and creatures from folklore to ensure a distinct Korean identity.

Mok Young-mi admitted that nailing the Hanbok was a genuine headache. While beautiful, it is a nightmare to implement; lean too far into historical accuracy and the impact falls flat, but add too much fantasy flair, and you lose that quintessential Korean silhouette. The solution? The team bought and scanned various physical garments, using the iconic gat (hat) and dopo (robe) as their anchor points.

Technically, they ditched the idea of simulating the entire outfit at once. Instead, the team broke it down by parts—handling the overall flow and silhouette separately while applying Chaos Cloth simulation only where it mattered most, keeping performance smooth.

There was also plenty of soul-searching regarding the use of Korean history. The team concluded that historical accuracy is a tool, not the end goal, so they established a strict balance: 70% fantasy/30% accuracy for the protagonist and main NPCs, 30% fantasy/70% accuracy for background characters, and a 50/50 split for environments. Getting everyone on the same page was key.

Mok Young-mi didn't shy away from the 'Asian character' trope seen in many fantasy games, noting that they often feel detached from the reality of Korean faces. To fix this, the team used 3D scans of actual actors for lead characters like 'Woochi,' and even scanned over 100 Nexon Games employees to populate the world with realistic guards, scholars, and innkeepers.

As for the scenery, Mok Young-mi explained that to capture the unique light, seasonal shifts, and natural colors of Korea, the team relied heavily on Unreal Engine 5's Lumen and Megalights for a bright, vibrant aesthetic.

However, it isn't all sunshine; the environment warps into something more grotesque and shadowed as the influence of yokai grows, keeping players on their toes. The team even went on-site across the country to gather data, ensuring the landscapes feel like a genuine reflection of Korea.