Augmenting Heritage: Youth-Driven AR Innovation in Museum Spaces

Abstract. This study explores explores the potential for expanding museum exhibition practices by integrating technically sophisticated and narratively immersive Augmented Reality (AR) content into outdoor museum spaces. Focusing on a case study conducted at the Cheongju National Museum, the project involved the development and implementation of a character-driven, narrative-based AR experience titled Seokshin Road, designed to resonate with the cultural sensibilities and immersive preferences of visitors in their teens and twenties. The content utilizes Visual Positioning System (VPS) technology and a web-based AR platform to enhance spatial accuracy and accessibility. Through emotionally engaging character design and mission-based spatial navigation, the experience fosters active visitor participation. The system also includes an administrative interface that enables real-time feedback collection and user data analysis, supporting sustainable content management. As an example of transforming the museum environment into a narrative interface, this study empirically demonstrates how AR technology can deepen emotional engagement and interactivity in cultural heritage experiences. It further provides practical insights into visitor experience design and digital content strategies for cultural institutions.