Foreign Correspondents from Five Countries Visit Sejong City for Hangeul Discussion with Mayor Minho Choi

Two-Day Visit Includes Tour of Sejong Hangeul Festival

Minho Choi, Mayor of Sejong City, is holding a meeting with foreign press representatives from five countries visiting Sejong City. / Photo by Public Relations Office

A group of foreign correspondents representing major media outlets from five countries visited Sejong City, a city known for its Hangeul culture, for a two-day, one-night program. The purpose of their visit was to promote the uniqueness of Hangeul and its diverse culture to audiences around the world.

According to Sejong City on October 9, the foreign press corps consisted of six journalists from state-run or leading broadcasters and daily newspapers in five countries: the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, South Africa, Vietnam, and Kazakhstan. During their visit, they listened to an introduction about Sejong City at City Hall, received a briefing on the history and value of Hangeul from linguist Yoonpyo Hong (former professor at Yonsei University), and heard from Youngguk Park, CEO of the Sejong Foundation for Culture and Tourism, about the purpose and main programs of the Sejong Hangeul Festival, which runs until October 11.

Minho Choi, Mayor of Sejong City, and the foreign press corps engaged in an in-depth discussion about the future value and globalization of Hangeul, which is generating worldwide excitement, as well as the vision of Sejong City as a Hangeul cultural city.

On this day, Mayor Choi appeared wearing traditional hanbok and a gat, vividly showcasing the costumes of characters from "K-Pop Demon Hunters," which has gained global popularity, and drew enthusiastic responses from the foreign journalists.

Mayor Choi stated, "Sejong City is named after the great King Sejong, and has adopted Hangeul, his greatest achievement, as its core identity." He added, "As a city established to promote balanced national development in Korea, Sejong City will strive to become a global hub through Hangeul." He went on to say, "With this year's Sejong Hangeul Festival, which further strengthens our identity as a Hangeul festival, we aim to contribute to the continued global popularity of Korean Wave. We will work to ensure that Sejong City becomes a key center for the spread and experience of the Korean language and Korean culture."

Afterwards, the foreign press corps visited the Sejong Hangeul Festival site at Sejong Lake Park, where they experienced a variety of programs and immersed themselves in Hangeul culture. On October 10, they plan to view the "2025 Hangeul International Pre-Biennale" exhibition in Jochiwon, exploring the fusion of Hangeul culture and art that is drawing global attention. They will also visit local attractions such as the rooftop garden of the Government Sejong Complex, the Sejong Promotion Center of Korea Land and Housing Corporation, and the Eung Bridge.