2026 Hangeul Week” Marks 100 Years of Hangeul Day Under Theme “Hangeul by My Side

Attachment

- "Hangeul Week" events, including "2026 Hangeul Hanmadang-Gwanghwamun," to be held nationwide from October 6 to 17

- A diverse lineup of performances, exhibitions, and hands-on programs, including a media façade on the walls of Gwanghwamun Gate, the "Hangeul Cultural Industry Exhibition," and an academic conference

This year's celebration will look back on the past 100 years of Hangeul Day and shed light on the value and future of Hangeul. To mark the 580th anniversary of the promulgation of Hunminjeongeum and the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Hangeul Day, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST) will hold "2026 Hangeul Week" from October 6 (Tuesday) to 17 (Saturday) at Gwanghwamun Square and across the country. Together with major Hangeul-related organizations and institutions, Korean Language Culture Centers, and local governments, the MCST will present a wide range of cultural and arts events under the theme "Hangeul by My Side."

October 6-8: "Hangeul Hanmadang-Gwanghwamun" Offers Hangeul-Themed Performances, Exhibitions, and Hands-On Programs

October 8-11: "Twenty-Four, Universe" Transforms Hangeul's 24 Letters on the Walls of Gwanghwamun Gate

First, "2026 Hangeul Hanmadang-Gwanghwamun," the flagship event of Hangeul Week featuring Hangeul-themed performances, exhibitions, and hands-on activities, will be held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul from October 6 to 8. The stage will feature the musicals "By My Side, You in a Dopo" and "Gat-Geul" (Newly Born Script); "Read, Walk, and Sing," a concert combining poetry, music, and storytelling; and performances by the indie bands Far East Asian Tigers and Yangbans. To help the whole family enjoy Hangeul together, the event will also feature spaces offering around 20 hands-on activities, including a children's Hangeul playground, lettering exhibitions and experiences, Hangeul Garden, and Hangeul experience programs by the National Hangeul Museum.

At 7:00 p.m. on October 8, the Hangeul Day Eve Celebration will take place on the Gwanghwamun Square stage. The event will open with the illumination of 100 lights symbolizing the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day, followed by celebratory performances by the K-pop group "AtHeart" and the indie band "Broccoli, you too?" International students from King Sejong Institutes and citizens of various generations will also take the stage to read "The Meaning of Hangeul."

The media façade "Twenty-Four, Universe," unveiled as the finale of the Eve Celebration, is a must-see. In vivid visuals, the 24 letters (14 consonants and 10 vowels) of Hangeul are born from the darkness of ink, become constellations, and then expand into images of nature and life, such as mountains and water, before coming together with the dancheong (traditional decorative coloring) of Gwanghwamun Gate to complete a single name. The media façade will be projected onto the walls of Gwanghwamun Gate every evening from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., October 8 to 11.

October 6-8: "2026 Hangeul Cultural Industry Exhibition" Highlights the Industrial Potential of Hangeul

October 12: "Hangeul Day Centennial Academic Conference" Explores the Next 100 Years of Hangeul

The "2026 Hangeul Cultural Industry Exhibition" will also be held at Gwanghwamun Square from October 6 to 8 to highlight the industrial potential of Hangeul. Hosted by the National Hangeul Museum, the exhibition will showcase and sell a variety of Hangeul cultural products and content and operate hands-on spaces. In particular, it will present media art reinterpreting Cheonggu yeongeon (Traditional Song Collection) in a contemporary way, along with K-pop music and video content. In addition to a space introducing new Hangeul cultural products, such as furniture, household goods, and stationery, the exhibition will operate a Hangeul Industry Business Center connecting domestic and international buyers with participating companies to help expand sales channels for Hangeul cultural products and content.

On October 12, the "Hangeul Day Centennial Academic Conference" will be held at the National Museum of Korea under the theme "A Milestone of 100 Years of Hangeul Day: Hangeul Crosses Boundaries to Open the Future of the Korean Language." Leading scholars from Korea and abroad will discuss the direction of Hangeul and the Korean language amid major changes, including the global spread of "K-Culture" and the advent of the artificial intelligence (AI) era.

"Hangeul by My Side" Celebrated Together Nationwide

A wide range of Hangeul-related events will take place across the country during Hangeul Week. Events will include the National Hangeul Museum's special exhibition "FROM 1926 TO INFINITY" (October 2, 2026 - February 2027), the National Museum of World Writing Systems' special exhibition "Hunmaengjeongeum" (October 7, 2026 - January 2027), the National Institute of Korean Language's "National Argumentative Writing Contest," and Sejong Special Self-Governing City's "2026 Sejong Hangeul Festival" and "Hangeul Run" running event. In addition, 22 Korean Language Culture Centers nationwide will host a variety of public participation events, including Hangeul cultural experiences, contests, and book report competitions.

Minister CHAE Hwi-young stated, "This year's Hangeul Week, which marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Hangeul Day, has been organized as a festival embracing the past, present, and future of Hangeul." He added, "Hangeul has been the driving force behind the flourishing of Korean culture. At a time when Korean culture is loved by people around the world under the name 'K-Culture,' I hope that Hangeul, which has always been by our side, will move beyond 100 years toward a new future."