Dominant Industry - Buyong

Dominant Industry Buyong - Ink drop

Buyong (부용) is one of two Dominant Industry inks created for the Spring 2025 Seoul Pen Show. The name translates to “Lotus” and refers to the Lotus Pond Pavilion in “Secret Garden” at Changdeokgung (Changdeok Palace). The palace dates to 1405 and was home to the Choseon/Joseon dynasty royal family for several centuries. Secret Garden is a 78-acre private retreat within the palace with Buyong pond and pavilion as its most iconic feature. The garden and pavilion is highly regarded as a place of peaceful tranquility and elegant design in harmony with nature.

When I first came to Korea, I walked the garden alone, and it was instantly my favorite of the many beautiful traditional spaces in Seoul. Today, visiting requires a guided tour (several each day in multiple languages with tickets available at the palace gate), but it is well worth the extra effort to experience!

Dominant Industry Buyong Ink Swatch on Cosmo Air Light and Tomoe River Papers

Dominant Industry describe the ink’s inspiration as; “the blue-green hue of water, the elegance of refined nature at Buyong Pavilion in the Secret Garden of Changdeok Palace, leaves ripple gently on the pond’s surface, and beneath the clear waves, the warm texture of the stone wall softly reveals itself." This is a lovely deep teal. It leans blue on many papers, more green on others.

Dominant Ind. Buyong Ink Swatch on Iroful and Takasago Bank Paper

As you can see, strokes are bordered with a firm, dark edging. There’s no feathering or spread leaving crisp, clean strokes. It’s also a powerful shading ink! The transition from dark to light is graceful on some papers, but quite intense and abrupt on others. Shading was comfortable on all other than Cosmo Air Snow, where it became a bit too much! (I think this is the first time I’ve found shading to be too extreme, but thankfully it’s only on one paper out of the nine I tested.)

Dominant Industry Buyong Ink Writing Sample on Cosmo Air Snow Paper

I bought Buyong at the Spring 2025 Seoul pen show, so it isn’t going to be easy to find a bottle. However, you might find it somewhere online (or if you’re lucky enough to visit Dominant Industry’s Ink Library in person.)

My strongest recommendation is for the ink’s inspiration. If you come to Korea, don’t miss the chance to visit the Secret Garden at Changdeok Palace. Most tourists don’t take the extra effort, and that’s a mistake. The Buyong pond and pavilion is a private, peaceful oasis retreat in the heart of the mega-city. It was instantly my favorite spot, and may become your favorite, too!

Dominant Industry Buyong Writing Samples

Dominant Industry Buyong Fountain Pen Ink Swatch Card

Dominant Industry Buyong Ink Swatch Card Comparisons

Dominant Industry Buyong - 30 ml Bottle