South Korea celebrates 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day

South Korea is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day and the 580th anniversary of the promulgation of Hunminjeongeum.

The National Archives of Korea has released a three-part video series titled ‘Unboxing the Archive: Hangeul Edition’ to commemorate the milestone. The series explores the scientific excellence of the script, its history of preservation during the Japanese colonial period, and its evolution from the 1926 ‘Gagya Day’ to a national holiday. The videos feature experts discussing Hangeul’s role in literacy movements and its universal value.

In Seoul, approximately 400 participants, including many foreigners, gathered at Gwanghwamun Square for the 17th Calligraphy Competition organized by the Korean Arts and Culture Institute. Participants wore traditional hanbok and practiced calligraphy to honor the creation of the script.

Separately, labor unions held a press conference near the statue of King Sejong the Great to protest the working conditions of Korean language educators. The union called for government guidelines to prevent precarious employment practices, such as short-term contract splitting, in public universities.