Sejong City is a place that inherits the spirit of King Sejong, the creator of Hangeul. It is not just our city’s name that is “Sejong”—we are the only city in Korea where over 1,100 names of villages, bridges, roads, and schools have been beautifully crafted in the Korean language. When you visit Sejong, you will be enriched not only by the grand Government Complex Sejong and the stunning gardens throughout the city, but also by the passion for Hangeul demonstrated by our citizens and the city itself—a truly delightful experience for both eyes and ears.
We are running a variety of unique policies and projects. In 2023, for the first time, Sejong hosted the government’s official Hangeul Day celebration, which had previously only been held in Seoul.
Hangeul-related festivals have also become annual events, including celebrations of King Sejong’s birthday and Hangeul Day itself. Especially during the Sejong Hangeul Festival, which begins on October 9th (Hangeul Day), a wide range of cultural and artistic programmes will take place throughout the city. Since last year, we have held special events such as the Hangeul Cultural Exhibition, the Hangeul Run (a marathon event), and the Sejong Hangeul Competition for international students.
Sejong City has been officially designated as a “Hangeul Cultural City” by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The Ministry’s Five-Year Plan for the Advancement of the Korean Language (2022–2026) includes the development of Sejong as a Hangeul-specialised city.
We also utilise unique city symbols, such as “Sejong Geulkkot Font” (a font created by local seniors who learned to write at the literacy centre) and “Young Sejong Chungnyeong” (a character inspired by King Sejong’s youth).
Hangeul and the Korean language are not just writing systems or tools for communication; they represent a unique cultural value and intellectual sophistication as a world-class language. With its scientific design, aesthetic perfection, and philosophical depth, Hangeul is increasingly recognised in advanced academic and cultural fields worldwide—including education, research, and creative content.
We believe Sejong has an important role to play in further elevating Hangeul’s global status as a distinguished language. While K-Pop, dramas, and other Korean Wave (Hallyu) content lead global trends, the most fundamental and greatest K-content is Hangeul itself. Sejong City regards Hangeul and the Korean language as core cultural assets and advanced intellectual property, and we are committed to sharing their unique linguistic value and dignity with the world through our future-oriented vision.
