South Korea debates adding Hangul plaque to historic Gwanghwamun gate

On July 26 the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety hosted a public forum at Yonsei University to discuss whether a Hangul inscription should be added alongside the existing Hanja plaque at Gwanghwamun. About 200 citizens and experts, 205 participants in total, took part. The majority voted to preserve the current Hanja plaque – 90% said it should be respected and 75% felt Hangul could be promoted through exhibitions, events and digital content instead of a new plaque. Supporters of the Hangul addition argued that “the Hangul plaque would reflect the creation of the Korean script during King Sejong’s era and national identity,” while opponents warned it would “violate cultural‑heritage preservation principles.” The ministries said the diverse opinions will be taken into account in future policy reviews. The debate touches on the gate’s history, which has seen multiple plaque changes since the 19th‑century original Hanja sign was installed, a Hangul sign added in 1968, and the current Hanja plaque installed in October 2023.