As the first carrier in the world to launch a commercial 5G network, SK Telecom wanted to use their technology to make the world a little better by showcasing its creative potential. SK Telecom committed to making Changdeokgung Palace barrier free for all to enjoy and created a first of its kind Augmented Reality guided tour which overcame physical barriers for wheelchair users. The team carefully designed an ‘Accessibility Tour Mode’, which guided visitors with disabilities seamlessly through the palace grounds and immersed them in 12 educational and explorative moments. The team paired SK Telecom’s 5G MEC technology together with Google’s newly released cloud anchor technology to place these hyper-realistic holographic images accurately in situ. This unique combination of technology has never been seen at this scale before.

Changdeok ARirang is a first of its kind Augmented Reality guided tour, designed to make Changdeokgung Palace more accessible to a broader range of visitors. It pushes the creative potential of 5G technology and location based AR to new heights and gives visitors to the palace an unforgettable immersive experience. Visitors are greeted by the virtual guide and mythological guardian of the palace, Haechi, and are taken around an eclectic mix of educational, immersive moments, granting unprecedented access to areas of the palace otherwise reserved for the non-disabled. Visitors can explore secret portals and partake in ancient customs and traditions with members of the Joseon court, sensitively brought to life in AR. Areas of the palace, including a secret garden which has limited access, were recreated entirely in AR. During the tour, Haechi shares historical information and points out objects of significance, imparting wisdom from times gone by.

SK Telecom wanted to push the boundaries of 5G to showcase its creative potential and engage consumers in a memorable and meaningful experience. After undergoing extensive research, the team learned that an improvement or transformed experience at a familiar place that has not been changed for a long time would make the biggest impact. Through multiple insight sessions with various organizations, the team found out that despite recent technological advancements, the viewing experience at Changdeokgung Palace, a 600-year-old cultural heritage site, has not changed for decades, especially the experience of visitors with physical disabilities. This was the breakthrough moment to reimagine the experience of these 18 million annual visitors through strategic collaborations with industry-leading tech brands and a government organization.

Changdeok ARirang pushes the creative potential of 5G technology and location based Augmented Reality experiences to demonstrate to consumers how it can transform their lives. In order to create the activation, the entire cultural site had to be mapped out virtually. The team used Google’s newly launched ‘Cloud Anchor’ technology to generate a series of virtual breadcrumbs, to connect each immersive moment. This helped to form a digital twin of the real life location allowing hyper realistic visuals to be placed within centimeter accuracy at the palace grounds. This innovative use of Google’s Cloud Anchors, coupled with SK Telecom’s 5G MEC has never been seen at this scale before. Every aspect of the project was informed by a cultural committee and shot in beautiful high-definition using 4K Volumetric capture. The team casted people to play the historical figures who mirrored the depictions of the Joseon dynasty in historical archives. They even took a traditional Korean archery lesson to ensure the archery lesson with the prince in the app was as authentic as possible. The app was launched on July 27, 2020. To enjoy the service, 5G Android smartphone users could download the app and simply launch the app at Changdeokgung Palace. Those who do not have a 5G Android smartphone could experience the service with the free 5G smartphone rental from July 28 to Dec 31, 2020. An ‘at home’ version of the experience was also released, a few weeks after the initial release.

Changdeok ARirang is paving the way for the future of cultural experiences and demonstrates the mind blowing potential of 5G technology. Since the launch, a total of 4,530 users have used the app on the site, despite the visiting restraints due to COVID-19. An at Home version recorded a total of 247,000 app downloads in just 4 months since the launch.

According to SK Telecom’s survey, 73.8% respondents said that their experience with Chrandeok ARirang was far better than their previous tours of other Korean cultural sites and 92.4% said they were satisfied with the service. They also said that they were pleased to take a virtual tour of the restricted areas and to learn new things about the palace and its history. Visitors, especially children, also found Changdeok ARirang to be much more fun and interesting than reading written descriptions of the site.