By Xu Aiying and Lee Jihae

A host of events will commemorate Hangeul Day on Oct. 9, a national holiday marking the proclamation of the Korean alphabet in 1446.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will hold from Oct. 8-9 at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square the Hangeul Culture Grand Party.

On the eve of Hangeul Day, the b-boy group Jinjo Crew will perform "Hangeul, Writing through Dance," to be followed by a ceremony of the Sejong Culture Awards honoring those contributing to Korean culture. More awards will be handed out in contests of creativity based on Hangeul.

Hangeul Day will also be marked by the ceremony dubbed "Sejong, 1446," with a musical depicting the life of the legendary king and his process of inventing Hangeul. Celebratory performances are scheduled as well, with other events to feature both Korean and foreign participants.

The National Hangeul Museum will host through Oct. 9 a Hangeul family festival. To mark its fifth anniversary, the museum is also holding the exhibition "Heroes of Hangeul," which features lesser-known figures who helped protect or promote the alphabet.

Twenty Korean-language and cultural centers nationwide and 15 Korean Culture Centers and 86 King Sejong Institutes (for Korean-language education) abroad will all hold events featuring Korean-language contests, handwriting and Taegeukgi (Korean national flag) drawing.

A Korean-language class for foreign tourists is being held from Oct. 7-9 at Sujeongjeon Hall of Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace, where Hangeul was developed. To be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily, the class will teach the principles behind the alphabet's creation, consonants and vowels, elementary Korean conversation and Hangeul calligraphy.

xuaiy@korea.kr