An Analysis Study of Implicit Visual Symbols in Movie Poster: Focusing on Korean Action Movies

Movie posters are visual design elements used to introduce and promote movies to the public with implicit images and messages. This study analyzed the design components of movie posters and the visual design of Korean action movie posters. In order to examine the symbolic meaning of the movie poster we looked at the meaning of Peirce’s symbols and the disclosure and communication of symbols. The analysis revealed changes and trends in expression due to social cultural influences and various contemporary issues in Korean movie posters. The concise summary of around 2 hours of movie content is discernible through title, taglines, and subtitles. Additionally, such components illustrate the changes throughout different eras within movie posters. Visualizations expressed through main visuals, typography, color palettes, action elements, backgrounds, etc., exhibited distinctive aspects of each component through different eras. Moving into the 2000s, there was increased diversity in compositional aspects, and from the 2010s onwards, attempts and changes ensued due to advancements in technological elements. This study holds significance in analyzing the composition elements and trends in posters for Korean action movies.