By Honorary Reporter Gracia Castillo from El Salvador

Photos = Gracia Castillo

The King Sejong Institute branch in San Salvador, El Salvador, on June 23 hosted the event "El Salvador in Hangeul" in alliance with the Korean Embassy there and UTEC (Technological University of El Salvador) to mark the centennial anniversary of Hangeul Day coming on Oct. 9.

The event introduced the history and structure of the Korean alphabet while presenting a student-led project that connects Salvadoran culture with Hangeul. The program was centered on a winning proposal by Alejandra Sandoval and Ariana Aparicio, whose joint project was selected from 12 entries.

Ariana Aparicio (left) and Alejandra Sandoval (right), winners of the Hangeul Day event, on June 23 pose for a photo at UTEC in San Salvador.

The organizers said this initiative not only highlighted the historical and cultural value of Hangeul, but also strengthened bilateral exchanges.

Raquel Orantes (center), manager of the King Sejong Institute branch in San Salvador, on June 23 leads a Hangeul workshop at UTEC in San Salvador.

Kim Mina, a teacher at the branch, gave a presentation on Hangeul, explaining its creation under King Sejong and its original name Hunminjeongeum (The Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People). She introduced the linguistic structure of the writing system and explained how its consonants and vowels were designed to reflect the shape of speech organs.

This presentation reflected the main goal of the event, summarized by one of the winners in her speech, "We want to transmit what King Sejong did in his time."

Kim Mina, a teacher at the King Sejong Institute branch in San Salvador, on June 23 gives a presentation on how Salvadoran words are written and pronounced in Korean at the event "El Salvador in Hangeul" at UTEC in San Salvador.

The highlight of the event was a pocket dictionary created by contest winners Ariana Aparicio and Alejandra Sandoval divided into three cultural sections: "Salvadorean Table," which introduces Salvadoran food; "How We Talk," which explains Salvadorean slang and jargon; and "My Country in Hangeul," which presents major tourist destinations in the Central American state.

The two winners said they made their guide to merge the cultural identity and idiosyncrasies of El Salvador with Hangeul.

ljyhwa@korea.kr

*This article was written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.