The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) organized a comprehensive series of special programs to commemorate Hangeul Day, designed to showcase the spirit behind Korea's unique writing system, celebrate its aesthetic beauty, and introduce Korean language and culture to broader audiences across the United Kingdom. The initiative included multiple events spanning several weeks, featuring hands-on workshops, educational lectures, and collaborative programs with prestigious British institutions.
The celebration began with a Hangeul Calligraphy Workshop held on Tuesday, October 7th at 6 p.m. local time at the Korean Cultural Centre UK. This interactive session allowed participants of all ages and backgrounds to experience writing Hangeul using traditional brushes and modern pens. Attendees had the opportunity to create their names in Korean script while exploring the distinctive visual harmony and structural principles that make Hangeul unique among world writing systems. The workshop was specifically designed to be accessible and enjoyable, serving as an engaging introduction to the Korean writing system while fostering deeper interest in Korean language learning.
The following evening, October 8th at 6 p.m., the KCCUK presented a comprehensive historical lecture titled "King Sejong and the Creation of Hangeul." This educational session delved into the fascinating historical background, linguistic principles, and profound cultural significance behind the invention of Hangeul in the 15th century. Participants gained valuable insights into the social and cultural conditions that motivated the development of this revolutionary script, as well as its scientific design principles and contemporary global cultural value. The lecture provided an important opportunity to introduce Korea's rich linguistic heritage within a broader international context, reinforcing the ongoing relevance of Hangeul in today's interconnected world.
Dr. Seunghye Sun, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre UK, emphasized the deeper significance of these programs, stating: "Hangeul is a cultural heritage for a new era, created to help individuals express their own thoughts and intentions. This power to articulate meaning is also the foundation of Korean aesthetics. By writing Hangeul together with K-culture fans in the UK and exploring its history through a dedicated lecture, we hope to share its beauty and build a new cultural legacy shaped by the meanings we express through Hangeul."
The celebrations extended beyond the Cultural Centre with a special collaborative event at the prestigious British Museum on October 24th. This remarkable program, titled "Why We Write: Writing Systems and Human Stories," brought together leading international experts to explore the fundamental question of why humans developed writing systems. The distinguished panel featured Professor Anders Karlsson from SOAS University of London, a specialist in Korean history and Hangeul; Dr. Irving Finkel, curator of Middle Eastern Mesopotamia at the British Museum and a renowned authority on cuneiform script; and Professor Stephen Colvin from University College London, an expert in Greek epigraphy. Dr. Seulbi Lee, a Hangeul specialist from Birkbeck, University of London, served as the moderator for this enlightening discussion.
This unique interdisciplinary event provided a rich comparative perspective across different civilizations, examining the origins and cultural significance of various writing systems including Korean Hangeul, ancient Mesopotamian cuneiform, and Greek inscriptions. The program explored the profound impact that writing systems have had on human civilization and cultural development throughout history. Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Overseas Korean Galleries Programme, the British Museum event generated exceptional public interest, with tickets selling out completely a full month before the scheduled date.
Through these comprehensive educational and cultural programs, the Korean Cultural Centre UK successfully achieved its goals of deepening international understanding of the Korean language, celebrating the unique cultural value and historical significance of Hangeul, and sharing Korea's remarkable linguistic heritage with diverse audiences throughout the United Kingdom and beyond. The events demonstrated the continuing global relevance and appeal of Korean culture while fostering cross-cultural dialogue and appreciation for the beauty and sophistication of Korea's writing system.
