The plan to add two Hangul signboards alongside the existing Chinese-character signboard at Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace, appears likely to be shelved for the time being. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has shifted to a cautious stance, citing the need to gather broader public opinion.
"Gwanghwamun is both a cultural heritage site and a national symbol," Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young said Thursday at a meeting with officials from Hangul-related organizations at Gyeongbokgung Palace, held ahead of the ceremony marking the 629th anniversary of King Sejong the Great's birth. "The idea of installing a Hangul signboard here carries good meaning, but precisely for that reason, public consensus is a very important part of this."
"At this point, not many people have yet participated in the opinion-gathering process. We will publicize the issue more broadly, watch how the public's will and consensus take shape, and continue to consult on how to proceed by reflecting public opinion," Choi added. "We will conduct opinion surveys if necessary, and if there are good opinions, please share them without reservation. I will reflect them and cooperate accordingly."
The Gwanghwamun signboard replacement issue has been under discussion since January 20, when Minister Choi reported to a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae-myung on a plan to install an additional Hangul signboard while keeping the existing Chinese-character signboard. An expert forum was held at the auditorium of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History on March 31, where opposition was considerable. Overall, opinions from outside Hangul-related organizations have largely been negative.
"We are currently receiving opinions on the ministry's website bulletin board and are also going through the procedure of gathering expert opinions," Choi explained.
The meeting was attended by Kim Ju-won, president of the Korean Language Society; Lee Kun-bum, head of the Hangul Cultural Solidarity; and Kwon Jae-il, chairman of the Korean Language Society Foundation. Notably, Thursday marked the first time Minister Choi has publicly addressed the Gwanghwamun signboard issue since the January Cabinet meeting.
Officials from Hangul-related organizations attending the meeting unanimously argued that the Gwanghwamun signboard should be replaced with one in Hangul. Some argued that even though Hangul and King Sejong are unique Korean cultural assets and important tools for the global spread of K-culture, national heritage authorities have been treating them lightly.
The Gwanghwamun signboard controversy was also raised in May 2024, during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. The trigger then was likewise the voices of Hangul-related organizations on the occasion of the King Sejong birthday celebration. At that time, the proposal was to replace the existing Chinese-character signboard entirely with a Hangul one.
However, national heritage experts reacted negatively and public opinion was unfavorable, ultimately leading the proposal to fall through. The same issue has now been raised again by Hangul-related organizations following the change in government.
On the same day, the ceremony marking the 629th anniversary of King Sejong the Great's birth was held at the Heungnyemun Plaza of Gyeongbokgung Palace, under the theme "Yeominlak: Enjoying the World Together."
In his congratulatory address, Minister Choi said, "The cultural seeds sown by King Sejong have bloomed as the flower of 'Hallyu' across the world." He added, "This year marks the meaningful 100th anniversary of the designation of Hangul Day, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will further spread the value of our culture based on the spirit of King Sejong the Great."
