National Hangeul Museum to Hold Special Exhibition in Conjunction with Hangul International Pre-Biennale

Special Exhibition at Sejong City Foundation for Culture and Tourism Until October 12
Featuring 111 Works Showcasing the Artistry of Hangul

The National Hangeul Museum, under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, announced on September 1 that it will hold the special exhibition "Today's Hangul, Sejong's Hangul" at the Parkyeon Culture Hall of the Sejong City Foundation for Culture and Tourism until October 12, 2025, in conjunction with the "2025 Hangul International Pre-Biennale."

Exhibition Poster "Today's Hangul, Sejong's Hangul." National Hangeul Museum

The Hangul International Pre-Biennale is a preliminary event for the inaugural Hangul Biennale, which will be held in 2027. It will take place at the 1927 Art Center in Jochiwon, Sejong City, under the theme "Words Drawn, Lives Connected." The National Hangeul Museum organized the exhibition "Today's Hangul, Sejong's Hangul" to highlight the significance of hosting the Pre-Biennale in Sejong, a city renowned for Hangul culture, and to promote the cultural value of Hangul by showcasing both the original form of Hangul from the era of King Sejong and the new values Hangul holds today.

This exhibition presents contemporary works that emphasize the form and experimental nature of Hangul, alongside original materials that reflect the philosophy and meaning behind the creation of Hunminjeongeum. By doing so, it demonstrates how script and art can harmonize and expand together.

Part 1, "Today's Hangul: Comfort in Everyday Use," features 111 pieces from 13 works by artists from various fields such as graphic design, furniture, and crafts, who reinterpret Hangul as an artistic medium. Visitors can appreciate works such as "ㆍㅡㅣ" by artist Chun Jongup, a white porcelain piece expressing the harmony between the philosophy of Hangul vowels (heaven, earth, and man) and ceramic art, and "Jangseokjang" by artist Ha Jihoon, inspired by traditional Joseon wooden furniture and the metal fittings used in them.

Part 2, "Sejong's Hangul: Creating Twenty-Eight New Letters," introduces a variety of materials that showcase the original form of Hangul, including the Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon and the Eonhaebon. The exhibition features an infographic video that explains the principles of Hangul's creation and operation as described in the 33 pages of the Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon, along with examples of 15th-century Hangul. It also unveils 112 pieces of Hangul metal type excavated in Insadong, which represent the early form of Hangul, the jar that contained the metal type at the time, and Hangul documents believed to have been printed using this type.

During the exhibition period, the Sejong Foundation for Culture and Tourism will offer exhibition commentary and docent tour programs. The exhibition commentary will be conducted by Sejong citizens who have completed the "Hangul Docent Training" course, volunteering to lead 15-minute sessions. On weekdays, commentary will be provided twice a day at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and on holidays, three times a day at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. The docent tour is a program where participants tour exhibition halls within the city by bus with a docent, available by advance registration on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be held on the 13th and 27th.

Kang Jeongwon, Director of the National Hangeul Museum, stated, "'Today's Hangul, Sejong's Hangul' is a special opportunity to explore both the original form and contemporary uses of Hangul. Building on the successful hosting of the first Hangul International Biennale in Sejong, a city of Hangul culture, we will continue to create vibrant events that enhance the cultural value of Hangul through ongoing exchange and cooperation."