Distressed Soju 2 is a very bold, normal width, medium contrast, upright, normal x-height font visually similar to 'EF Franklin Gothic' by Elsner+Flake; 'Chubbét' by Emboss; 'Franklin Gothic', 'ITC Franklin', and 'ITC Franklin Gothic LT' by ITC; 'Helvetica Now' and 'Trade Gothic Display' by Monotype; and 'Franklin Gothic' by URW Type Foundry (names referenced only for comparison).
Keywords: posters, headlines, packaging, logos, signage, rugged, playful, punchy, vintage, handmade, impact, texture, retro feel, handmade look, ruggedness, roughened, blunt, chunky, inked, poster-like.
A heavy, compact display face with chunky, simplified letterforms and softly squared curves. Strokes are mostly monolinear in feel, but the edges are visibly roughened, with irregular nicks, dents, and slightly uneven inking that suggest worn printing or a textured stamp. Counters are generous and largely open (notably in O, P, R, and e), supporting clarity despite the dense weight. Overall spacing reads slightly loose for a bold face, with a steady baseline and a consistent, blocky rhythm across caps, lowercase, and numerals.
Works best in large sizes where the distressed edge detail can be appreciated—posters, bold headlines, event graphics, labels, and packaging. It can also serve short branding lines or logo wordmarks that benefit from a rugged, tactile presence; for longer copy, its strong weight and texture are better used sparingly as emphasis.
The texture and blunt geometry give the font a gritty, tactile voice that feels handmade and energetic. It balances toughness with approachability, reading as retro and craft-forward rather than aggressive or industrial.
The design appears intended to deliver high-impact display typography with a deliberately weathered surface, combining simple, sturdy shapes with a worn-print texture to evoke craft, nostalgia, and analog production.
Uppercase forms lean toward rounded-rectangle construction (C, D, O, Q), while diagonals (K, V, W, X, Y) stay sturdy and wide-armed. The distressing appears applied consistently across the set, creating a cohesive printed-wear effect without obscuring key silhouettes in common words and numerals.