Sejong City, Herald Media Group to bolster efforts for global spread of Hangeul

Herald Media Group will work with Sejong City to promote the global spread of the Korean language, officials from the two entities said Thursday.

Sejong City Mayor Choi Min-ho and Herald Media Group CEO Choi Jin-young signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on events promoting Hangeul and exploring new business opportunities during a meeting held at Sejong City Hall.

Last year, the two organizations successfully co-hosted the 1st Sejong Hangeul Olympiad and the 2024 Hangeul Run to celebrate Hangeul Day, the annual commemoration of the creation of the Korean alphabet.

The Sejong Hangeul Olympiad, a Korean-language proficiency competition for foreign learners, was held at the Government Complex Sejong Convention Center on Oct. 8 last year, with over 100 contestants from 24 countries taking part in quizzes, a debate session and a dialect-speaking competition.

The following day, over 5,000 ordinary citizens participated in the run held at Sejong Lake Park, celebrating the creation of Hangeul. Sean, a Korean rapper known for his philanthropic contributions, joined the runners on the 10.9-kilometer route.

The two organizations will strengthen their efforts to make Sejong a hub for the Korean language, officials said.

Mayor Choi said in a statement, "The events Sejong City organized with Herald Media Group last year showed how innovative a cultural festival centered on Hangeul can be. We will continue to collaborate actively on projects to promote Hangeul globally."