98th Braille Day... Yoon In-chon: "Braille, a Gateway to a New World"

Professor Park Junghwi of U1 University and 5 Meritorious Persons Awarded Commendations

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will hold a ceremony to commemorate the '98th Hangeul Braille Day' on the 4th at the National Museum of World Writing Systems in collaboration with the Korea Blind Union.

This year's ceremony is held under the theme "A More Convenient Life with Braille, a World We Create Together," expressing the hope that visually impaired people can enjoy a more convenient and joyful life alongside sighted people through Braille.

At the ceremony, a thematic video featuring interviews with individuals actively working with Braille in various fields of society will be screened, and awards will be presented to those who have contributed to the development of Hangeul Braille.

The recipients of the Hangeul Braille Development Merit Awards include ▲ Professor Park Jung-hwi of Uiwon University, who has taught and researched Braille for 32 years ▲ Teacher Heo Byung-hoon of Seoul School for the Blind, who played a key role in revising Braille regulations and establishing basic plans for Braille development, as well as expanding Braille education opportunities for visually impaired students ▲ Committee member Cheon Young-ok of the Icheon City Branch, Gyeonggi Province Chapter of the Korea Blind Union, who enhanced local community understanding of Braille and improved disability awareness. They will receive commendations from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Kim Young-su, chief at the Busan Metropolitan City Welfare Center for the Visually Impaired, will receive the Director Award of the National Institute of the Korean Language, and Lee Seung-jun, instructor at the Gunpo City Branch, Gyeonggi Province Chapter of the Korea Blind Union, will receive the President Award of the Korea Blind Union.

From this day until the 8th, a Hangeul Braille Week event will be held at the outdoor plaza of the museum in celebration of Hangeul Braille Day.

Minister Yoo In-chon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, "Braille is more than a simple writing system; it is a gateway that connects visually impaired people to a new world where they can acquire information and knowledge and enjoy culture and arts." He added, "At this ceremony, just as visually impaired people experience tactile exhibitions, we will strive to bring them closer to culture."