Poster Design of Korean Films ③ - In the 1980s

The unique title lettering is expressed like an edge of the frame, and the design with a photo in the center is impressive. The idea of connecting and repeating the first and last letters of the title is clever. The credits are also placed along the rectangular image in the center, which draws attention to the image. It is a poster whose bold layout, rather than its gripping image is what stands out.

It is one of the masterpiece posters of the 1980s that are overwhelmingly beautiful in terms of color, photography, layout, and title calligraphy. On faded brown paper, a still in a similar tone is placed in the center. This design gives an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere, and the idea of placing the film company's name in a red seal in the upper left corner gives an impression that this poster is a work of art.

It is an impressive poster with exotic b/w photos colored with an airbrush, and a title design written in splendid calligraphy. At the time of its release, the film company produced a calendar with poster images, and the calendar was popular. Son Gi-chul took the picture for the poster, and director Lee Hwang-rim wrote the head copy. Director Lee Joon-ik, who worked as a designer at Cinecity, a movie advertising company at the time, designed the poster.

Poster made with the concept of a notice in the Joseon Dynasty, put up on the street to search for the identified criminals. Even though Kang Soo-youn, one of the best actresses at the time, starred in the film, the image of this teaser was an illustration rather than a portrait of her. The erotic costume dramas that were popular in the late 1980s used a lot of provocative pictures and phrases, but this poster alone elevated this film into another level.

There is a green gradation that occupies half of the poster, and the three characters stand in the middle above it. Even though it was made with a still, the poster looks like it was made under thorough planning from the beginning, which shows the designer's ability. The photo of Ahn Sung-ki, who looks like a child in a hat, and the logo title placed in a wavy pattern convey the impression that it is a warm and cute movie.

This poster is a good example showing that a lot of design unnecessary if a single photo is powerful enough. By placing the photo in the center of the black background, one can better immerse oneself in the image. The left poster showing only the back of actress stimulates the cinematic imagination. The right poster reveals the tense relationship between the characters. The poster photo is the work of photographer Gu Bon-chang.