Late Professor Hyungdoo Jang of Seoul National University and Others Named as "2025 Hangeul Advancement Contributors"

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on October 8 that it has selected nine individuals and one organization, both from Korea and abroad, who have made significant contributions to the development of Hangeul and the Korean language, as the "2025 Hangeul Advancement Contributors."

This year's awardees include individuals from not only Korea but also the United States, Australia, Canada, Rwanda, and Russia, who have dedicated themselves to the advancement of Hangeul and the Korean language over many years. Their efforts span a wide range of fields, including Hangeul and Korean language education, botany, Korean literature, informatization, the arts, and special education, thereby expanding the value of Hangeul and the Korean language. The Ministry stated that at the "579th Hangeul Day Celebration Ceremony" on October 9, it will present two Orders of Cultural Merit (Bogwan), two Medals of Culture, three Presidential Citations, and three Prime Minister's Citations.

The Order of Cultural Merit (Bogwan) will be awarded to the late Professor Hyungdoo Jang, formerly of Seoul National University, and Mark Allen Peterson, Emeritus Professor at Brigham Young University, USA. The late Professor Hyungdoo Jang, a botanist, made significant contributions to the preservation of Hangeul and the Korean language by giving native Korean names such as Baramkkot and Aegittongpul to indigenous plants during the difficult period of Japanese colonial rule and by compiling the "Student's Guide to Plants." Emeritus Professor Mark Allen Peterson has long served as a Korean language instructor and, as a member of the Korean Language Educators Association and the Korean Teachers Association, has contributed to the development of Korean language education. He has authored numerous books on Korea, and his particular affection for Sijo led him to translate and introduce Sijo in English, thereby promoting traditional Korean literature.

Professor Hyungdoo Jang (left) of Seoul National University, awarded the Order of Cultural Merit posthumously, and Mark Allen Peterson, Emeritus Professor at Brigham Young University, USA [Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

The Medal of Culture will be awarded to Kisik Lee, advisor at ITGen, for his contributions to the informatization of Hangeul and the Korean language through the development of word processors and Korean-Japanese automatic translation systems, and to Darima Tsdenova, professor at Buryat State University in Russia, who for over ten years has contributed to the spread of Hangeul and the Korean language by teaching Korean, publishing academic papers on the Korean language, and leading the establishment of a King Sejong Institute.

The Presidential Citation will be presented to Chosook Cho, distinguished professor at Dongbang Culture Graduate University, for developing Hangeul fonts, actively holding exhibitions, and nurturing students to pass on the artistic value of Hangeul; to Eunkyung Shin, teacher at Seogwipo Onseong School, for researching and applying Korean language teaching methods for students with special needs, thereby expanding opportunities for Hangeul learning; and to Changwon Choi, research fellow at the Asiatic Research Institute of Korea University, for laying the foundation for Korean language education and dissemination in Timor-Leste by serving as a Korean language instructor for over 13 years and compiling Korean language learning dictionaries.

The Prime Minister's Citation will be awarded to Jackson Andrew David, professor at Monash University in Australia, for contributing to the spread of Hangeul and the Korean language by increasing Korean language courses, establishing master's and doctoral programs, and publishing Korean language textbooks; to Justin Murwanashyaka, principal of GS Bugarura School in Rwanda, for laying the groundwork for Korean language dissemination by training local Korean language teachers in Rwanda, where the infrastructure for Korean language education is limited; and to the Montreal Korean School in Canada, for promoting Hangeul and the Korean language for over 46 years through activities such as the "Korean Speaking and Writing Contest."

In celebration of the 579th Hangeul Day, the Ministry will invite this year's awardees to Korea, introduce them to traditional and modern Korean culture, and provide opportunities to experience various cultural events at venues such as the National Museum of Korea, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Cheonggyecheon, and Tongin Market.

A policy official from the Ministry stated, "The awardees have devoted themselves to the education and dissemination of Hangeul and the Korean language both domestically and internationally, thereby enhancing the value and status of Hangeul worldwide," adding, "The Ministry will continue to actively support the spread of Hangeul and the Korean language in the future."