In celebration of the 578th anniversary of the creation of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister YU In Chon, MCST) hosted 2024 Hangeul Week under the theme “Are You OK?! Hangeul” from October 4 to 10 at multiple locations, including Gwanghwamun Square (October 4–5) and the National Hangeul Museum (October 4–10). This year’s event reflected on the current state of Hangeul, often neglected due to indiscriminate and excessive use of foreign languages, abbreviations, and neologisms, and aim to rediscover the meaning of Hangeul, while featuring various cultural events that allow participants to experience the value of this precious cultural asset.

October 4: 130 contests, including pre-round qualifiers, competed in the First National Spelling Contest

This year’s event include the first-ever  National Spelling Contest, to be held October 4 at 3:00PM in Gyeongbokgung Palace’s Heungbokjeon Hall, jointly hosted by the National Institute of Korean Language and Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and managed by the Federation of Korean Language and Culture Centers. Planned in celebration of the 578^th anniversary of Hangeul Day, the contest aimed to raise public interest in the spoken and written Korean language and encourage its accurate and refined usage. A total of 130 participants, including 120 regional qualifiers and 10 non-Korean contestants, competed in the event, with awards presented for the final winners[1]: one grand prize (Ettuem), two runner-ups (Beogeum), three merit awards (Boram), and two special prizes.

October 4: 43rd Sejong Cultural Awards held during the 2024 Hangeul Week Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony of 2024 Hangeul Week took place on October 4 at 5:30PM in Gwanghwamun Square, with attendance by stakeholders from various organizations related to Hangeul and the Korean language. Leading up to the main ceremony, professional vocalists and local choirs showcased performances that use only  native Korean words. The main ceremony featured congratulatory messages from graduates and students of King Sejong Institutes worldwide as well as famous content creators, along with performances and videos highlighting the deteriorating reality of the Korean language since its creation and the efforts to preserve and nurture it. The 43^rd Sejong Cultural Awards[2] also was held during the opening ceremony. Meanwhile, MCST planned to establish the Birthdate of King Sejong (May 15) as an official commemorative day, on which the King Sejong Awards will be held starting next year.

 October 4–10: Hangeul Festival and Academic Conference at the National Hangeul Museum

The National Hangeul Museum hosted a variety of activities, including a virtual traditional Hangeul school experience, the musical Yido, a Hangeul fashion show, the puppet show Hangeul and King Sejong, the making of Angbuilgu[3] (hemispherical sundial), and after-party performances. On October 5–6, the Museum featured a performance in its auditorium titled Hwagae Market which is tied to the exhibition Can’t Resist Dialects, promising enjoyable entertainment for families with children.

In addition, a number of academic conferences were also hosted during Hangeul Week. A conference under the theme “Hangeul Before Liberation” took place October 4 at the Korean Language Society, Main Hall, revisiting the grammar and vocabulary of pre-liberation Hangeul while exploring the future direction of the Korean language based on the current reality. Other research presentations and lectures on “The Fundamental Ideas of Respect in the Korean Language and Directions for Future Development” and “The Beauty of Hangeul and the Way Forward” were held October 7–8 at the National Hangeul Museum auditorium.

October 4–10: Hangeul Cultural Industry Exhibition held in Gwanghwamun Square and the National Hangeul Museum

As part of Hangeul Week, the Hangeul Cultural Industry Exhibition also took place at Gwanghwamun Square (October 4–5) and the National Hangeul Museum, Annex Hall (October 4–10). This year, the exhibition shed spotlight on the beauty and originality of Hangeul under the theme “Immersed in Hangeul,” while showcasing its potential applications in various cultural sectors. Visitors to Gwanghwamun Square were able to explore works by up-and-coming artists and commercialized Hangeul-themed products, in addition to experiencing an AI-based calligraphy program. The Annex Hall of the National Hangeul Museum displayed more than 90 Hangeul-inspired household products, such as tableware and jewelry boxes, as well as ten fine art works that have transformed Hangeul into paintings and sculptures. In addition, works based on AI technology and those by emerging artists also offered ideas for how Hangeul can change and evolve in the digital age and in the society of the future.

Nationwide Participation in Hangeul Week by the National Institute of Korean Language, Jindo National Gugak Center, National Museum of World Writing Systems, 22 Korean Language and Culture Centers, and Local Government Offices

This year’s Hangeul Week is participated from the National Institute of Korean Language, Jindo National Gugak Center, the National Museum of World Writing Systems, and Korean Language and Culture Centers nationwide, along with local governments. The National Institute of Korean Language held an audiobook listening event at Gwanghwamun Square and the National Hangeul Museum, where visitors can listen to the audiobook version of author Lee Hyo Seok’s Burning the Fallen Leaves, created by 365 voices. The Jindo National Gugak Center held an event to honor King Sejong’s spirit of compassion with the theme “The World Dreamed of by King Sejong” on October 9. The National Museum of World Writing Systems ran traditional performances and Hangeul experience programs on Hangeul Day (October 9) in the Green Square of Songdo Central Park, Incheon. A performance that combines cutting-edge AI science with modern dance inspired by text characters was also showcased in the first-floor lobby of the museum. A total of 21 Korean Language and Culture Centers, including the centers of Gangwon University and Hanyang University organize various Hangeul cultural events for children, foreigners, and local residents, including the Hangeul Day Big Festival, Beautiful Korean Language Store, and a signage photo contest for public institution buildings. Seoul Metropolitan Government opened a program on Hangeul Day (October 9) at Nori Madang in  Gwanghwamun Square that explores the principles behind the creation of Hangeul with experts. Sejong Special Self-Governing City hosted a Special Exhibition on Hangeul Culture for the month of October at the National Children’s Museum and the Park Yeon Cultural Center, where visitors can experience the Hangeul culture city Sejong in advance. On October 8, the first Sejong Hangeul Competition was held for foreign university students at the Government Complex Sejong Convention Center, while a Hangeul Day celebration ceremony was held at Sejong Lake Park in conjunction with the Sejong Festival on October 9.

2024 Hangeul Week, a Celebration throughout the World

Hangeul Week also plans hosting cultural events that can be enjoyed locally as well as globally. From October 6 to 12, King Sejong Institute Foundation will invite top learners[4] from around the world to experience Korean culture and Hangeul and visit Korean historical sites. On October 7, the final round of the Korean language speaking and writing competition was held, with the final winners (2 individuals) receiving the MCST Minister Award with scholarships.

The Federation of Korean Language and Culture Centers invites the recipients of the Hangeul Development Contribution Awards and the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize winners for a cultural tour around Seoul, where the participants visited the Hanok Village, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and took part in the Hangeul Week cultural events and Hangeul Day Celebration Event. Korean Language and Culture Centers and King Sejong Institutes overseas are also organizing various cultural events in celebration of Hangeul Week and Hangeul Day. In total 22 Korean Language and Cultural Centers, including the center in South Africa, holds events and exhibitions such as “Korean Language Golden Bell” and “Hangeul Naming Booth,” while King Sejong Institutes in Mongolia, Botswana, and Vietnam hold K-pop events, calligraphy programs, and Korean cooking events.

For more details on 2024 Hangeul Week events, please visit the official websites (한글날.com or 한글날.kr) or follow our official social media channels (Instagram: @hangeulweek, YouTube: Hangeul Week).