Last Wednesday, 4 October, the Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa (KCCSA), in collaboration with the Project Literacy, organized a special event in anticipation of Hangeul Day (9 October), commemorating the creation and proclamation of the Korean alphabet ‘Hangeul.’

▲ The participants learning to read and write Hangeul

Approximately 20 teenagers and adults gathered at the Project Literacy Education Centre in Pretoria to participate in this educational event. Attendees learned to read and write the Korean alphabet, Hangeul, and engaged in a hands-on workshop where they crafted traditional Korean stamps featuring their names written in Hangeul characters.

▲ The participants making traditional Korean stamps with their Hangeul names

▲ Jiyeol You, Director of the KCCSA, delivering his welcome remark

Jiyeol You, Director of the KCCSA, said in his welcome remark, “South Africa is a country with 12 official languages, including the recently designated South African Sign Language (SASL). This reflects an extraordinary capacity of the country for acceptance and respect for each language and the culture derived from it. I am honoured to have given an opportunity to introduce the Korean language to you in celebration of the Hangeul Day, and, hopefully, also to present a special moment where we both are connected through this cultural exchange.”

▲ Yondela Tolobisa from the Project Literacy

Yondela Tolobisa from the Project Literacy, who co-organized the event, said, “It was really touching to learn that Hangeul was created to promote literacy among the common people at the time.” She added, “I hope to continue to collaborate with the KCCSA to introduce the meaning and power of language to a wider group of people.”

▲ The participants of the event

The event forms part of the KCCSA’s initiative to introduce the Korean language to South Africa. The KCCSA offers regular Korean language courses free of charge, and a variety of cultural events and workshops introducing the Korean Language. Past events have included the Korean Speaking Contest, Korean calligraphy workshops, and traditional stamp-making workshops, all contributing to cultural exchange between South Africa and Korea.