The Value of Hangeul, Realize and Experience It... Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's 'Hangeul Week'

Dictation Contest and Hangul Culture Industry Exhibition Held

A festival reflecting on the meaning of Hangul and experiencing its value will unfold. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will hold the '2024 Hangul Week' from the 4th to the 10th of next month at Gwanghwamun Square, the National Hangeul Museum, and other locations. Under the theme 'Are you okay?! Hangul,' various events such as a dictation contest, the Sejong Culture Awards ceremony, and the Hangul Culture Industry Exhibition will take place.

The dictation contest will be held on the 4th at Heungbokjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace. A total of 130 participants, including those who passed the regional preliminaries and special foreign participants, will compete. The Sejong Culture Awards ceremony will be held on the same day during the opening ceremony at Gwanghwamun. Established in 1982 to inherit King Sejong’s achievements and creative spirit and to promote cultural development, the award recognizes outstanding achievements in five fields: Korean culture, arts, academia, international cultural education, and cultural diversity, presenting presidential citations and other honors.

At the National Hangeul Museum, visitors can experience a virtual Hangul Seodang (traditional school), watch the musical 'Ido,' attend a Hangul fashion show, see the puppet play 'Hangul and King Sejong,' and participate in making an Angbuilgu (a sundial made during King Sejong’s era). Especially on the 5th and 6th of next month, the performance 'Hwagaejangteo' will be presented in connection with the exhibition 'Can't Stand Dialects.'

There will also be an academic conference. On the 4th of next month, at the auditorium of the Hangul Society, the theme 'Hangul before Liberation' will explore the grammar and vocabulary research of Hangul and seek directions for the future of our language. On the 7th and 8th, at the auditorium of the National Hangeul Museum, research presentations and lectures will be held under the themes 'The Fundamental Philosophy of Respecting Our Language and Directions for Its Development' and 'The Beauty of Hangul and the Way Forward,' respectively.

The Hangul Culture Industry Exhibition can be visited at Gwanghwamun Square and the annex of the National Hangeul Museum. This year’s theme is 'Dyed in Hangul.' It highlights the beauty and originality of Hangul and suggests its potential applications in various cultural industries. At Gwanghwamun Square, works by emerging artists and products commercialized from Hangul content will be exhibited, along with an experience center exploring AI-generated stylish calligraphy. At the National Hangeul Museum, ninety everyday items such as Hangul tableware and jewelry boxes, as well as ten Hangul artworks elevated into painting and sculpture, will be displayed.

During 'Hangul Week,' the National Institute of the Korean Language, the National Namdo Gugak Center, the National Museum of World Writing Systems, and local governments will also participate. The National Institute of the Korean Language will present a sound book completed with the voices of 365 people reading Lee Hyo-seok’s 'Burning Leaves' at Gwanghwamun Square and the National Hangeul Museum. The National Namdo Gugak Center will commemorate the spirit of love for the people under the theme 'The World King Sejong Dreams Of,' and the National Museum of World Writing Systems will hold traditional performances and Hangul experience events at the Central Park lawn in Songdo, Incheon. Additionally, Seoul City will offer programs exploring the principles of Hangul creation, and Sejong City will present a special exhibition on Hangul culture.