In October 2023, in celebration of Hangul Day, the upgraded 「YEOGIEOTTAE Jalnan-che」 and the newly designed 「YEOGIEOTTAE Jalnan-che Gothic」 were released. About five years after its original launch, the much-loved 「Jalnan-che」 was reborn once again.
Over the past five years, 「Jalnan-che」 has been used in a wide variety of contexts.
Image source: Seongdong-gu Office website
Looking back on the roughly six months that passed from reconnecting with YEOGIEOTTAE last March to the release of the fonts, the process felt much like a journey. Standing before many branching paths, discussing together which direction would be best, sharing opinions, and searching for a final destination — the experience closely resembled traveling. So shall we follow the journey of choices we made while renewing the font and creating a new one?
Where Should We Go?
Before setting out on this long design journey, we first needed to decide on our general direction — where we should be heading. Through a kickoff meeting, we learned about YEOGIEOTTAE’s current state and the direction it aims to move toward. YEOGIEOTTAE is seeking to expand beyond a domestic accommodation platform into a global travel platform, and in line with this shift, they hoped 「Jalnan-che」 would present a renewed image as well. Based on this, we analyzed the existing 「Jalnan-che」 data and identified points of discomfort, which helped us establish a clear overall direction.
The existing 「Jalnan-che」 carried several challenges. First, with only 2,350 characters, it posed limitations when expressing newly coined words and loanwords commonly used today. Second, the rounded upper stroke endings of 「Jalnan-che」 gave it a slightly cute impression, which made it less suitable for broader usage. To address these issues, we decided to expand the existing 「Jalnan-che」 to cover the full Hangul syllable set of 11,172 characters, while also refining the Latin characters and numerals that previously caused minor discomfort due to size differences relative to Hangul. In addition, we decided to newly design a title font with a more neutral impression capable of conveying a wider range of information.
Words that became typable through the expansion to 11,172 characters
Twelve Fragmented Alleyways
With a clear destination set, it was time to explore the various paths leading there. After the initial kickoff meeting, we created a prototype for the new Gothic font. While preserving its distinctive lively character, we explored multiple approaches to create a font with improved readability. Ultimately, we selected an approach that maintained the existing structural framework while removing rounded stroke details and adjusting curvature and weight slightly to enhance legibility.
As we moved into full-scale font production, new issues began to surface — issues that could not be identified during the prototype stage. At YEOGIEOTTAE, decisions were made swiftly at each of these moments. Because the direction of “improving readability” was clear, we were able to consistently find our way forward. Below, we will look at the design in detail and share the moments of choice we encountered along the way.
1. Latin Characters and Numerals
Adjusting the Latin characters and numerals in the existing 「Jalnan-che」 did not present major difficulties. The YEOGIEOTTAE team first pointed out areas that felt awkward based on their experience using the original font.
Given the service’s nature, YEOGIEOTTAE frequently displays dates and prices. In the original 「Jalnan-che」, the Latin characters and numerals were designed slightly smaller than Hangul to match the aesthetic trends of the time. In addition, the numerals were designed close to fixed-width, which caused inconsistencies in perceived white space between different numbers. To resolve these issues, we aligned the size and positioning of the Latin characters and numerals with Hangul and modified the numerals to proportional widths so they could achieve more even white space.
Another decision arose while designing the numerals for the new 「Jalnan-che Gothic」 — specifically, the shapes of 6 and 9. We proposed three possible directions within the conceptual framework, and ultimately selected the final form based on its harmony with Hangul.
Near–fixed-width numerals in 「Jalnan-che」 2018 ver / Proportional-width numerals in 「Jalnan-che」 2023 ver / Various designs of the numeral “6”
2. The Shape of Curves
The existing 「Jalnan-che」 was characterized by expressive curves that conveyed a lively and witty impression. However, when distinctive forms are repeated too frequently, they can sometimes hinder readability. In 「Jalnan-che Gothic」, we prioritized legibility over expression, making the curvature more natural and, when necessary, removing certain characteristics through discussion.
Comparison of curvature between 「Jalnan-che」 and 「Jalnan-che Gothic」
3. Detach or Connect?
In the original 「Jalnan-che」, the squared lower stroke endings and rounded upper stroke endings met in a way that allowed clear distinction between components. In 「Jalnan-che Gothic」, however, the removal of rounded stroke endings led to increased collisions between strokes in certain characters. Similarly, in the upgraded 「Jalnan-che」, newly designed combinations of double final consonants and the vowel ‘ㅠ’ introduced new instances of stroke collision.
To resolve this, we needed to reorganize the internal structure of characters. You can see traces of this 고민 in the characters shown below. After extensive testing and discussion, we ultimately decided, for the sake of legibility, to fully separate the medial and final consonants in double-final consonant cases for both 「Jalnan-che Gothic」 and the upgraded 「Jalnan-che」.
Strokes between components that are connected or separated depending on the case
In addition, the creation of characters that had not existed before led to another issue — the legibility of ‘ㅍ’. In order to emphasize the characteristic rounded upper stroke endings, the horizontal and vertical strokes of ‘ㅍ’ were designed separately, which caused confusion with the vowel ‘ㅛ’. During the mid-review process, the YEOGIEOTTAE team first pointed out this issue. As a result, we tested various forms of ‘ㅍ’ based on multiple criteria.
After examining the pros and cons of each approach, we made the following decisions in line with each font’s direction: in 「Jalnan-che Gothic」, to improve legibility and readability, the initial ‘ㅍ’ is separated while the final ‘ㅍ’ is connected; in 「Jalnan-che」, to better preserve the characteristic rounded stroke endings, we decided to maintain the existing design in which both the initial and final ‘ㅍ’ are separated.
Various tested forms of the initial ‘ㅍ’ and the final selected design of ‘ㅍ’
There were many more detailed points of consideration, but sharing them all would make this scroll far too long. So at this point, let us show you the completed 「Jalnan-che」 and 「Jalnan-che Gothic」.
The completed 「Jalnan-che」 and 「Jalnan-che Gothic」
The True Charm of Travel Lies in Unexpected Small Delights
From the planning stage, YEOGIEOTTAE expressed a desire to add travel-related dingbats to the font. Building on this idea, we proposed applying an OpenType feature that converts specific character combinations into dingbats, making them easy for users to access. Ultimately, this resulted in the creation of 127 charming dingbats.
The dingbats were produced through a process in which YEOGIEOTTAE designers provided the designs, and Sandoll designers converted them into font assets. Even in this process, there were countless decisions to be made regarding size, spacing, and more. After multiple rounds of testing and feedback, we prioritized usability and determined sizes and spacing that harmonized well with the font.
These small yet carefully considered dingbats can be accessed by combining # with travel-related words. We hope users will enjoy typing various travel-related words after # and discovering these unexpected little pleasures.
Concluding a Delightful Journey with YEOGIEOTTAE
With this, the short yet long six-month design journey came to an end. Even after the font release, various promotional activities followed. Among them, the most memorable moment was meeting Song, the project lead from YEOGIEOTTAE, and conducting an interview with Fortune Korea (Link), which allowed us to reflect on and wrap up the project together. In addition, YEOGIEOTTAE has published an article (Link) that provides a more detailed look into the branding process. If you would like to see 「Jalnan-che」 introduced alongside beautiful graphics, please refer to this website (Link).
Looking back, we believe that we were able to pass through countless moments of choice safely because we shared opinions, set priorities, and kept moving toward our destination together. The process of numerous big and small choices coming together to form a single outcome felt both fascinating and deeply rewarding. We hope you will show much love for YEOGIEOTTAE 「Jalnan-che」 and 「Jalnan-che Gothic」, which embody both playfulness and solidity, just like the YEOGIEOTTAE brand. And we hope that everyone who reads this piece will enjoy, even briefly, the fun and pleasure of traveling through the small world within a font.
Type Branding
Life Is a Series of Choices — Travel, and Fonts
In October 2023, in celebration of Hangul Day, the upgraded 「YEOGIEOTTAE Jalnan-che」 and the newly designed 「YEOGIEOTTAE Jalnan-che Gothic」 were released. About five years after its original launch, the much-loved 「Jalnan-che」 was reborn once again.
Over the past five years, 「Jalnan-che」 has been used in a wide variety of contexts.
Image source: Seongdong-gu Office website
Looking back on the roughly six months that passed from reconnecting with YEOGIEOTTAE last March to the release of the fonts, the process felt much like a journey. Standing before many branching paths, discussing together which direction would be best, sharing opinions, and searching for a final destination — the experience closely resembled traveling. So shall we follow the journey of choices we made while renewing the font and creating a new one?
Where Should We Go?
Before setting out on this long design journey, we first needed to decide on our general direction — where we should be heading. Through a kickoff meeting, we learned about YEOGIEOTTAE’s current state and the direction it aims to move toward. YEOGIEOTTAE is seeking to expand beyond a domestic accommodation platform into a global travel platform, and in line with this shift, they hoped 「Jalnan-che」 would present a renewed image as well. Based on this, we analyzed the existing 「Jalnan-che」 data and identified points of discomfort, which helped us establish a clear overall direction.
The existing 「Jalnan-che」 carried several challenges. First, with only 2,350 characters, it posed limitations when expressing newly coined words and loanwords commonly used today. Second, the rounded upper stroke endings of 「Jalnan-che」 gave it a slightly cute impression, which made it less suitable for broader usage. To address these issues, we decided to expand the existing 「Jalnan-che」 to cover the full Hangul syllable set of 11,172 characters, while also refining the Latin characters and numerals that previously caused minor discomfort due to size differences relative to Hangul. In addition, we decided to newly design a title font with a more neutral impression capable of conveying a wider range of information.
Words that became typable through the expansion to 11,172 characters
Twelve Fragmented Alleyways
With a clear destination set, it was time to explore the various paths leading there. After the initial kickoff meeting, we created a prototype for the new Gothic font. While preserving its distinctive lively character, we explored multiple approaches to create a font with improved readability. Ultimately, we selected an approach that maintained the existing structural framework while removing rounded stroke details and adjusting curvature and weight slightly to enhance legibility.
As we moved into full-scale font production, new issues began to surface — issues that could not be identified during the prototype stage. At YEOGIEOTTAE, decisions were made swiftly at each of these moments. Because the direction of “improving readability” was clear, we were able to consistently find our way forward. Below, we will look at the design in detail and share the moments of choice we encountered along the way.
1. Latin Characters and Numerals
Adjusting the Latin characters and numerals in the existing 「Jalnan-che」 did not present major difficulties. The YEOGIEOTTAE team first pointed out areas that felt awkward based on their experience using the original font.
Given the service’s nature, YEOGIEOTTAE frequently displays dates and prices. In the original 「Jalnan-che」, the Latin characters and numerals were designed slightly smaller than Hangul to match the aesthetic trends of the time. In addition, the numerals were designed close to fixed-width, which caused inconsistencies in perceived white space between different numbers. To resolve these issues, we aligned the size and positioning of the Latin characters and numerals with Hangul and modified the numerals to proportional widths so they could achieve more even white space.
Another decision arose while designing the numerals for the new 「Jalnan-che Gothic」 — specifically, the shapes of 6 and 9. We proposed three possible directions within the conceptual framework, and ultimately selected the final form based on its harmony with Hangul.
Near–fixed-width numerals in 「Jalnan-che」 2018 ver / Proportional-width numerals in 「Jalnan-che」 2023 ver / Various designs of the numeral “6”
2. The Shape of Curves
The existing 「Jalnan-che」 was characterized by expressive curves that conveyed a lively and witty impression. However, when distinctive forms are repeated too frequently, they can sometimes hinder readability. In 「Jalnan-che Gothic」, we prioritized legibility over expression, making the curvature more natural and, when necessary, removing certain characteristics through discussion.
Comparison of curvature between 「Jalnan-che」 and 「Jalnan-che Gothic」
3. Detach or Connect?
In the original 「Jalnan-che」, the squared lower stroke endings and rounded upper stroke endings met in a way that allowed clear distinction between components. In 「Jalnan-che Gothic」, however, the removal of rounded stroke endings led to increased collisions between strokes in certain characters. Similarly, in the upgraded 「Jalnan-che」, newly designed combinations of double final consonants and the vowel ‘ㅠ’ introduced new instances of stroke collision.
To resolve this, we needed to reorganize the internal structure of characters. You can see traces of this 고민 in the characters shown below. After extensive testing and discussion, we ultimately decided, for the sake of legibility, to fully separate the medial and final consonants in double-final consonant cases for both 「Jalnan-che Gothic」 and the upgraded 「Jalnan-che」.
Strokes between components that are connected or separated depending on the case
In addition, the creation of characters that had not existed before led to another issue — the legibility of ‘ㅍ’. In order to emphasize the characteristic rounded upper stroke endings, the horizontal and vertical strokes of ‘ㅍ’ were designed separately, which caused confusion with the vowel ‘ㅛ’. During the mid-review process, the YEOGIEOTTAE team first pointed out this issue. As a result, we tested various forms of ‘ㅍ’ based on multiple criteria.
After examining the pros and cons of each approach, we made the following decisions in line with each font’s direction: in 「Jalnan-che Gothic」, to improve legibility and readability, the initial ‘ㅍ’ is separated while the final ‘ㅍ’ is connected; in 「Jalnan-che」, to better preserve the characteristic rounded stroke endings, we decided to maintain the existing design in which both the initial and final ‘ㅍ’ are separated.
Various tested forms of the initial ‘ㅍ’ and the final selected design of ‘ㅍ’
There were many more detailed points of consideration, but sharing them all would make this scroll far too long. So at this point, let us show you the completed 「Jalnan-che」 and 「Jalnan-che Gothic」.
The completed 「Jalnan-che」 and 「Jalnan-che Gothic」
The True Charm of Travel Lies in Unexpected Small Delights
From the planning stage, YEOGIEOTTAE expressed a desire to add travel-related dingbats to the font. Building on this idea, we proposed applying an OpenType feature that converts specific character combinations into dingbats, making them easy for users to access. Ultimately, this resulted in the creation of 127 charming dingbats.
The dingbats were produced through a process in which YEOGIEOTTAE designers provided the designs, and Sandoll designers converted them into font assets. Even in this process, there were countless decisions to be made regarding size, spacing, and more. After multiple rounds of testing and feedback, we prioritized usability and determined sizes and spacing that harmonized well with the font.
These small yet carefully considered dingbats can be accessed by combining # with travel-related words. We hope users will enjoy typing various travel-related words after # and discovering these unexpected little pleasures.
Concluding a Delightful Journey with YEOGIEOTTAE
With this, the short yet long six-month design journey came to an end. Even after the font release, various promotional activities followed. Among them, the most memorable moment was meeting Song, the project lead from YEOGIEOTTAE, and conducting an interview with Fortune Korea (Link), which allowed us to reflect on and wrap up the project together. In addition, YEOGIEOTTAE has published an article (Link) that provides a more detailed look into the branding process. If you would like to see 「Jalnan-che」 introduced alongside beautiful graphics, please refer to this website (Link).
Looking back, we believe that we were able to pass through countless moments of choice safely because we shared opinions, set priorities, and kept moving toward our destination together. The process of numerous big and small choices coming together to form a single outcome felt both fascinating and deeply rewarding. We hope you will show much love for YEOGIEOTTAE 「Jalnan-che」 and 「Jalnan-che Gothic」, which embody both playfulness and solidity, just like the YEOGIEOTTAE brand. And we hope that everyone who reads this piece will enjoy, even briefly, the fun and pleasure of traveling through the small world within a font.