A unique worldview created through games, music, and anime
——The second guest in this series, Sun Yaun of Balming Tiger, mentioned you as one of the creators he is most interested in, so I really wanted to talk to you about your work. First, please introduce the members of the team.
Song Ki-ho
The group consists of five members: Lionclad, an art director and beatmaker; Mugia, a singer-songwriter and music producer; Lee Sung-moon, a CG artist; Song Ki-ho, who is in charge of video, development, planning and operations; and Park Soo-min, an art director.
Mugia
Sungmoon and I have been classmates since elementary school, and we became friends with Lionclad in high school, and initially started out as a trio of musicians. Later, when we were trying to make a music video, Kiho joined us, and then Sumin, who was active as an art director, joined us, and we became the current lineup.
What does the group name mean?
Song
In Korean, "Ajik" means "not yet, not yet," and is a self-deprecating yet comforting phrase that means "I'm still okay in the magic world," and it is a name that expresses the desire to stay in a world of fantasy forever.
——Please tell us about your activities.
Song
All members love games and animation. Utilizing their talents (drawing, CG production, game development, music production, video, and art), the group engages in a wide range of activities, including character creation, game development, music production, music videos, and events. Their first project was "Eyeballs," released in 2020. This music video depicts the process of a character named "Jujubi" building a spaceship in the form of a point-and-click game.
Lionclad
There are people who create game visuals and music together, but we create a game that you can actually play, and then film it to enhance the immersion. That's the big difference.
--Please tell us more about the character "Jujubi."
Lionclad
A hole opens up in another dimension and a baby named Jujubi falls from the sky. The story is about a group of children called "Tiger Kids" who live there and raise Jujubi, fighting against the enemy from another dimension called the Sirens. I've loved hand puppets since I was little, so I used that in my designs. I've developed a variety of creations centered around the character of Jujubi.
--Please tell us about the games and music that have influenced you.
Song
I played NEXON's online games "MapleStory" and "KartRider" in the 2000s and learned about design and various other things.
Mugia
In terms of music, I grew up listening to Korean and American hip hop, and British electronica. Lately, I've been liking the delicate atmosphere that can be felt in Japanese anime music.
Lee Seong-moon
I happened to rewatch My Neighbor Totoro four years ago, which sparked my interest in the character and animation even more.
Lionclad
I loved the amusement park management simulation game "Roller Coaster Tycoon Adventure" because it stimulated my imagination. Musically, I was influenced by people from the hip-hop underground beat culture scene, such as Flying Lotus.
--Please tell us about your future plans.
Song
We are currently preparing an album due for release in January 2026. A new phase is coming for Jujubee, so stay tuned!
Artists and communities for constant observation of contemporary Korea
Artist
Artist. Creates pop paintings and animations using graffiti techniques. "The online project 'dokkebi.world' for a park on Jeju Island that features a goblin (demon) sculpture is interesting" (Lionclad). Instagram: @hailhaillab
Library
A mobile library run by three creators. "Their activities are interesting, such as publishing a book called 'B/K/B/K Rental Friend Seoul Guidebook' in which the members guide you around Seoul," says Song Ki-ho. Instagram: @bookeubookeu
Online Radio
A community radio station that broadcasts a lot of content related to the local club scene and Korean culture. "What's interesting is that while it deals with cutting-edge culture, it also holds events that are very Korean," says Mugia. Instagram: @scr_radio
