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South Korea's Lee proposes writing Hangul alongside Chinese characters on Gwanghwamun plaque
En breve
President Lee Jae-myung said at an Oct. 6 cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae that Hangul cannot be seen at Gwanghwamun, whose signboard is written in Chinese characters, and proposed writing Hangul alongside them. He said that if a vote were held, writing both would be acceptable to him, and that the government should reach a conclusion by next year. Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young said the government would widen public discussion and try to set a direction within the next year.
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President Lee Jae-myung said at a cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Oct. 6 that Hangul cannot be seen at Gwanghwamun, “the most important place in the Republic of Korea,” where the signboard is written in Chinese characters, and proposed writing Hangul alongside them. Chosun Ilbo reported that he said the government should gather public opinion and reach a conclusion by next year. Seoul Economic Daily reported that this was the first time Lee had directly put forward the “write both” position since the dispute began in January. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Lee said his personal view leaned toward writing both. Asia Economy reported that he told the meeting that “if a vote were taken, writing both would be acceptable to me,” and added that “though it seems like a minor matter, I also think it may be a question of principle,” and that he asked citizens watching the live broadcast of the cabinet meeting to think the question over with the government. Seoul Economic Daily quoted him saying he “cannot do it as I please and should not.” [ 2 , 3 ]
The current plaque is the Chinese-character plaque on the third floor of the pavilion, Seoul Economic Daily reported, restored as it was when Gyeongbokgung was rebuilt under King Gojong. Asia Economy reported that Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young told the cabinet in January of a plan to leave the existing Chinese plaque in place and add a Hangul plaque on the second floor, and that the government has been collecting opinions since. A deliberative discussion was held in July with 200 citizens and experts taking part, Asia Economy said, but it ended without a conclusion, with those who wanted to emphasise the symbolism of Hangul and those who wanted to preserve the original form of the cultural heritage evenly split. Seoul Economic Daily reported that public debates were held twice, in March and in July, and that they also failed to reach a conclusion. [ 2 , 3 ]
Choi said at the same meeting that the government would widen public discussion so that more citizens can join, and that it would “try to set a direction within the next year,” the two outlets reported. [ 2 , 3 ]
Seoul Economic Daily reported that Hangul-related organisations actively support a Hangul plaque while most cultural heritage organisations oppose it, and that the National Heritage Administration, which oversees Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun, is reported to hold a negative view. The same outlet reported that the signboard has been a recurring issue under successive governments, and that in 2024, under the previous Yoon Suk Yeol government, an attempt to replace the Chinese plaque entirely with Hangul fell through. [ 3 ]
Asia Economy noted that Choi had first proposed the Hangul plaque officially in January, citing this year as the 580th anniversary of the promulgation of Hunminjeongeum and the 100th anniversary of the declaration of Gagya Day, the forerunner of Hangul Day. [ 2 ]
Por qué importa
Gwanghwamun is the gate of a former royal palace and a national symbol, so the wording on its plaque touches on how South Korea presents its written heritage. Public discussion has been deadlocked between groups that want Hangul given more prominence and those that want the monument preserved as it stands, with the National Heritage Administration reported to hold a negative view. The president's direct intervention raises the prospect of a decision within the next year, but no option has been settled.
Datos clave
- President Lee Jae-myung raised the Gwanghwamun signboard at an Oct. 6 cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, saying Hangul cannot be seen at the site because the plaque is written in Chinese characters. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Lee said his personal view leaned toward writing Hangul alongside the Chinese characters, and that writing both would be acceptable to him. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Lee said the government should reach a conclusion by next year after gathering public opinion. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young reported a plan in January to leave the existing Chinese plaque in place and add a Hangul plaque, the reports said. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Public discussions on the issue ended without a conclusion, with supporters of Hangul's symbolism and defenders of the heritage's original form evenly split, the reports said. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Choi said the government would widen public discussion so more citizens can take part and would try to set a direction within the next year. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reported that Hangul-related groups support a Hangul plaque while cultural heritage groups mostly oppose it, and that the National Heritage Administration, which oversees Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun, is reported to hold a negative view. [ 3 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reported that in 2024, under the previous Yoon Suk Yeol government, an attempt to replace the Chinese plaque entirely with Hangul fell through. [ 3 ]
Confirmado por varias fuentes
- President Lee Jae-myung raised the Gwanghwamun signboard at a cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Oct. 6 and said writing Hangul alongside the Chinese characters is acceptable to him. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Gwanghwamun signboard is currently written in Chinese characters. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young reported in January a plan to leave the existing Chinese plaque in place and add a Hangul plaque. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Public discussions on the plaque ended without a conclusion, with opinions evenly split. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Choi said the government will expand public discussion and try to set a direction within the next year. [ 2 , 3 ]
Aún sin aclarar
- Whether the Gwanghwamun plaque will be changed, and to which option. The documents describe Lee's preference and a process toward a decision but report no final decision; Asia Economy says the July discussion ended without a conclusion.
- The National Heritage Administration's position on adding a Hangul plaque. Only Seoul Economic Daily mentions it, and it says the agency's negative view is “reported” rather than confirmed.
- What the government means by reaching a conclusion by next year. Lee is quoted as saying a conclusion should be reached by next year, while Choi says he wants to try to set a direction within the next year.
- Where a Hangul plaque would be placed relative to the existing one. Asia Economy says the January plan was to add it on the second floor of the pavilion, while Seoul Economic Daily says it would be added below the existing plaque.
Qué dicen los medios locales
Cronología, hora local
- Chosun Ilbo reports that Lee Jae-myung made the remarks while presiding over the cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae that morning, saying the government should reach a conclusion by next year after gathering public opinion. [ 1 ]
- Asia Economy reports the president's proposal, the culture minister's January report, the July deliberation with 200 citizens and experts, and Choi's plan to widen public discussion. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports that the president publicly put forward the “write both” position for the first time since January, and that the National Heritage Administration is reported to be negative. [ 3 ]