The media art project FlashBackground: Gyerim, jointly developed by TRIC (Technology Research Institute for Culture & Heritage) and Dexter Studios, is set for a pre-opening this October in the Bomun Tourism Complex in Gyeongju. Based on Silla’s thousand-year history and mythology, the exhibition integrates cutting-edge VFX and XR technologies with digital heritage assets to create a highly immersive media art pavilion.
FlashBackground combines “flashback,” meaning to revisit the past, with “background,” representing historical and cultural origins. As a brand, it aims to establish a global exhibition platform that reinterprets local heritage stories through media art. Its inaugural Gyerim pavilion spans approximately 5000 m²(60,000 ft²), with 14 exhibition halls designed as a multi-layered experiential space themed around journeys through time and space.
Building on its expertise in digital twins, AI-based restoration, and XR heritage content, TRIC contributes cultural heritage content development and digital heritage technologies. Dexter Studios complements this with VFX and spatial design, together forming a mutually reinforcing collaboration.
The October pre-opening coincides with the 2025 APEC Summit in Gyeongju, drawing worldwide attention to the region. Both TRIC and Dexter share the goal of reinterpreting Gyeongju’s cultural identity through contemporary media art while creating integrated value that spans tourism, culture, and education.
Looking ahead, FlashBackground is considering expansion to other key domestic sites, such as Jeju, and to international markets. For TRIC, the Gyerim project marks the launch of a broader global digital heritage tourism initiative rooted in Gyeongju and Silla heritage. As the APEC Summit approaches, Gyeongju’s cultural legacy, enhanced by cutting-edge digital technology, is expected to foster international exchange and accelerate its transformation into a forward-looking cultural tourism city.
