The National Hangeul Museum has announced plans to hold a series of traveling exhibitions across seven cultural and artistic institutions in South Korea this year. These exhibitions will showcase the historical and artistic significance of Hangeul through various themes and mediums.
According to the museum’s statement on the 17th, exhibitions such as Children’s Nation and Modern Hangeul Research Lab will be held in Gongju, Gumi, Busan, Gimpo, Gangneung, and Jeju, providing diverse audiences with the opportunity to explore Hangeul’s historical evolution and artistic reinterpretations.
Children’s Nation is an exhibition based on the magazine Children, published during the Japanese colonial period. It will be on display at Art Center Goma in Gongju from March 13 to May 11, followed by a presentation at the Gumi Cultural and Arts Center from May 20 to July 20. The exhibition highlights the role of children’s literature in the preservation and promotion of Hangeul during the colonial era.
The Modern Hangeul Research Lab exhibition reinterprets modern Hangeul materials through crafts, fashion, and digital media. This fusion of historical content with contemporary design will be featured at Gimpo Art Village Art Center from April 1 to June 29, and at Busan Citizens’ Hall from September 12 to October 31. The exhibition aims to bridge past and present, demonstrating the continued evolution of Hangeul’s influence on design and visual culture.
Another major exhibit, I Can’t Resist Dialects!, which was initially launched last year to commemorate the museum’s 10th anniversary, will be extended to Gangneung and Jeju. It will be displayed at Ojukheon and the Gangneung City Museum from July 9 to August 31, and later at the Dol Hareubang Park Seolmundae Halmang Exhibition Hall in Jeju from September 22 to December 7. This exhibition offers an interactive experience where visitors can explore various regional dialects and linguistic expressions across South Korea.
Additionally, a separate exhibition, Hangeul: Writing the Heart, will be held at the Chungcheongnam-do History Museum in Gongju from March 27 to July 6. This exhibit will feature Hangeul documents from the Joseon Dynasty, including Jagyungjeongi, which reflects royal devotion to filial piety, as well as personal letters written by King Jeongjo, illustrating the warmth of familial bonds expressed through Hangeul.
By taking these exhibitions beyond the museum’s Seoul headquarters, the National Hangeul Museum seeks to broaden public engagement with Hangeul’s cultural and historical significance. Through these traveling displays, visitors across the country will have the opportunity to experience the rich heritage and evolving artistry of the Korean script in various contexts.
Sayart / Joy, nunimbos@gmail.com
