- Opened on June 29 in Songdo International City, Incheon, the museum spans a total area of 15,650 m²

- Precious artifacts, such as the Tablet of Round Ark inscribed with cuneiform and the Gutenberg Bible are permanently exhibited

- Replicas of ancient legal texts, including the Code of Hammurabi and the earliest known alphabet-inscribed document, are available for hands-on activities

 - Cultural events ranging from a media art exhibition to experiential events and performances will take place between June 30 and July 6 to celebrate the museum’s grand opening

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) inaugurated the National Museum of World Writing Systems (Director KIM Joo Won) in Songdo International City, Incheon, on June 29 (Thur); it is expected to serve as the global center for the study and display of world writing systems.

The National Museum of World Writing Systems, backed by a budget of KRW 61.1 billion, covers a total area of 15,650 m². The museum features a permanent exhibition hall in the basement 1, a special exhibition hall and children’s interactive exhibition hall on the first floor, and a cafeteria on the second floor. The building, named “Pages,” has an exterior that resembles an unfurled white scroll. It is expected to become a new attraction in Songdo, blending harmoniously with the surrounding park and landscape.

Minister PARK Bo Gyoon stated, “Writing is humanity’s greatest invention. It has shaped history and fostered communication among humankind. Establishing the ‘National Museum of World Writing Systems’ in South Korea, the birthplace of the unique Hangeul writing system, which is known for its clear principles of creation, is a significant milestone. We will do our utmost to ensure that the museum serves as a bridge connecting Hangeul, the essence of K-culture charm, with the world’s writing systems while also integrating history and civilization.”

 Cuneiform clay tablets, canopic jar, and the 42-line Gutenberg Bible displayed in Korea

The National Museum of World Writing Systems has amassed an impressive collection of global writing artifacts, a shared heritage of humanity. It houses significant materials such as the Tablet of Round Ark (Cuneiform clay tablet), canopic jar, and 42-Line Gutenberg Bible.

The Tablet of Round Ark (cuneiform clay tablet) records the ancient West Asian flood myth in cuneiform on both sides of a clay tablet, dated between 2000 BC and 1600 BC. This story, one of humanity’s oldest, bears similarities to the “Noah’s Ark” narrative in the Bible, making it a vital artifact in Biblical archaeology.

An intriguing artifact is the jar engraved with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Ancient Egyptians used the canopic jar to store organs during mummification. The jar’s body bears hieroglyphs pertaining to the deceased, while the lid features a baboon, an animal that symbolizes the protective deity.

The 42-Line Gutenberg Bible marks the earliest book printed with metal type in Europe, demonstrating how the dissemination of writing through print technology paved the way for the democratization of religion and knowledge. Besides Keio University in Japan, the National Museum of World Writing Systems is the only institution in Asia that houses the Gutenberg Bible.

 Exhibition Showcasing the Grand Journey of World Writing and Human Civilization

The National Museum of World Writing Systems curates a permanent exhibition themed “The Great Journey of Writing and Civilization,” which approaches writing culture from a comparative cultural standpoint. Visitors can engage with various artifacts and digital depictions of 55 writing forms, extending from the earliest human writing system, cuneiform, to Egyptian hieroglyphics that heavily influenced global writing systems, to Chinese characters, the oldest writing form that is still used today, and to Hangeul, known as the most well-constructed writing system. Notably, the museum encourages visitor engagement by allowing touch interaction with replicas and featuring art pieces that reinterpret writing, as well as multilingual services in nine languages[1].

The museum also displays precise replicas of Ebers Papyrus (owned by Leipzig University), which is the oldest extant medical document, the Code of Hammurabi (owned by the Louvre Museum), the most extensive ancient legal text, and the Serabit el-Khadim Sphinx (owned by the British Museum), the first recorded alphabetic document.

To mark its inauguration, a special exhibition titled “Too Long; Didn’t Read – What is the Future of Writing?” will run until November 19 (Sun). The exhibition deliberates on the tendency to eschew lengthy texts and favor non-textual communication, such as images and videos. It urges a reevaluation of writing’s unique functions, shedding light on the roles played by writing and non-writing in communication.

The museum offers various spaces, such as a children’s interactive zone, which includes experience cards, interactive petroglyph videos, pictogram photo zones, and emoji quizzes. These allow visitors to actively engage with, experience, and express their thoughts on the exhibits. The museum’s first children’s exhibit, “Journey of Writing with Kkebi,” provides an exciting adventure of writing through digital technology–based experiences and content aligned with the Nuri curriculum.

 Encouraging Interaction and Solidarity between Hangeul, the Root of K-Culture Charm, and World Writing

 Various cultural activities include guestbooks in nine languages, time capsule mailboxes, underwater performances, etc.

On June 30 (Fri), an academic symposium celebrating the museum’s opening took place under the theme “Museum, Talking about Writing.” This promotes interaction and solidarity between Hangeul, the root of K-culture charm, and world writing systems. The symposium featured a keynote lecture on “Hangeul in World Writing” by KIM Joo Won, director of the National Museum of World Writing Systems.Other speakers included Ulf Sölter, director of the Gutenberg Museum in Germany, Tsukimoto Akio, director of the Ancient Orient Museum in Japan, Irving Finkel, a curator at the British Museum, Professor BAIK Seung Kuk of Inha University, and Professor LEE Yong of the University of Seoul. The event, equipped with simultaneous translation, was open to anyone interested in world writing.

  * Inquiries: 032-290-2051, Research and Education Department of the National Museum of World Writing Systems

Various cultural activities commemorating the opening is available at the National Museum of World Writing Systems and Songdo Central Park from June 30 (Fri) to July 6 (Thur). Outside the museum, a media art exhibition utilizing the exterior wall “Pages” and a photo zone featuring visualized writing and books will be operated. In the lobby, various experiential events themed around global writing systems, such as a massive guestbook in nine languages, a time capsule mailbox, and fan creation using sign language stickers, will take place.

On July 1 (Sat) at 7:00 p.m., the first weekend after opening, a world music performance featuring seven artists, including pianist CHO Yoon Seong, took place at Songdo Central Park’s lawn under the theme of “A Musical Journey through World Writing.” On July 2 (Sun), from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., an underwater performance using a large aquarium was staged in the museum lobby.

The National Museum of World Writing Systems opens its doors to the public on June 30 (Fri), following the grand opening ceremony on June 29 (Thur). The exhibits are available for free viewing from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and are closed every Monday.