A Proposed XR-based Digital Framework for Nakhwa-nori: Preserving Regional Traditional Festivals and Addressing Safety and Environmental Barrier

Hatnim Kim, Geonwoo Song, Seungryeol Eom, Seungkwan Choi

Keywords: Intangible cultural heritage, Real-time rendering, Particle simulation, Unreal Engine, Traditional Korean festivals, XR reconstruction, Nakhwa-nori, Fire effects simulation

Abstract: Nakhwa-nori, a traditional Korean fireworks display with over 500 years of history, faces preservation challenges due to safety risks from large crowds and limited accessibility. This digital reconstruction aims to preserve cultural identity and ensure that this unique ritual is not lost or misrepresented. This paper proposes a real-time 3D reconstruction system for traditional fireworks using Unreal Engine. The dual-layer particle system simulates large-scale environmental effects and individual ember trajectories with physics-based wind simulation. The prototype was built using key Unreal Engine features such as Nanite virtualized geometry, Lumen global illumination for night lighting, and GPU-accelerated Niagara particle systems. Spline-based rope systems and fire-on-water effects are planned for future implementation. Performance evaluation on consumer hardware demonstrated the potential to reproduce key visual elements such as particle density, lighting conditions, and spatial relationships. This study suggests practical applications of real-time rendering technologies for cultural heritage documentation and indicates that the approach could be extended to other traditions requiring complex particle effects.

Submission Number: 6