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Hanbat Friends
By Lim Ji-yeon, Cub Reporter, Junior of Building Systems Engineering
HBNU celebrated its 90th anniversary and introduced its new promotional characters, the “Hanbat Friends.” This project aims to reflect the values of the university by means of individuality and the meaning of the characters. Hanbat Friends has established itself as a mascot that enhances students’ school spirit and sense of belonging beyond mere promotion.
Hanbat Friends consists of four characters: HANI, BATI, NANI, and UTI. All four characters’ names come from the initials of HBNU. HANI has an active and adventurous personality and is named after H. BATI has a representative and rational image and takes its name from the B of ‘HANBAT’. NANI is both reserved and warm and is named after the N from ‘NATIONAL’. UTI has a bright personality with a smart and positive personality, and is named after the U from ‘UNIVERSITY’. Each character reflects the various personalities of HBNU members and provides students with a sense of familiarity.
Installation Locations
Hanbat Friends have already been installed in various locations on and off the campus. It is designed so that students and visitors can naturally experience the characters. Since the character models were installed in front of major building entrances such as the N1 and S2, they are easy to spot when coming and going. There are also pictures of Hanbat Friends featured on the university bus. so they can be seen everywhere. Hanbat Friends images are used throughout promotional materials such as banners and posters on campus. The places where the characters are located are diverse. So students are naturally exposed to the moment of being with Hanbat Friends in their daily lives.
Student Reactions
According to the Goodmorning Chungcheong article, one student described Hanbat Friends’ first impression as “the first impression was ‘cutie’ itself.” In addition, the following reactions are confirmed in university reports and SNS. Among the many reactions, students are responding positively when they see them placed on campus. Some commented, “Our school feels brighter” and “There is a highlight between the simple building.” Freshmen and students from other regions increased their familiarity with school by watching Hanbat Friends. They say the campus feels more familiar from the start. Some also mentioned that “the character sculpture lit at night is pretty.” and “I want to take a picture with my friend like a photo zone.”
Hanbat Friends is actively used in promotional materials both inside and outside the school and at various events. Characters appear at university functions such as matriculation ceremonies and festivals to greet students. They convey the image of the university through posters, information materials and online promotional content. Students come upon characters in their daily lives and naturally form closeness with the university. These efforts help present HBNU as a lively and welcoming institution, especially for international students and visitors. In particular, for international students and visitors, it forms a positive perception that HBNU is an open space.
Hanbat Friends is a symbol representing universities beyond just characters. The character’s personality and harmony show diversity, which creates a sense of belonging among students. This symbolism enhances the university’s brand value. HBNU will continue to promote the school’s identity and vision through Hanbat Friends.