Dobong Hangul Festival

Hangul was born of a wish to read the human heart, a script that connects people's thoughts and intentions to one another. It carried the voices of ordinary people who had struggled to express their meaning, and even through the darkest chapters of history it remained a hope that kept the spirit of our people unbroken. Dobong-gu, Seoul is a place touched by the breath of historical figures who created, protected, and enjoyed Hangul — from Princess Jeongui, daughter of King Sejong, to Kansong Jeon Hyeong-pil and Widang Jeong In-bo, who guarded the Korean language and script during the Japanese colonial era, and the poet Kim Su-young, who sang of freedom in Hangul. The year 2026 is a deeply meaningful one, marking the 580th anniversary of the promulgation of Hunminjeongeum as well as the 100th anniversaries of both the establishment of Hangul Day and the creation of 'Hunmaengjeongeum', a Korean script for the visually impaired. In this spirit, the Dobong Cultural Center presents the 15th Dobong Hangul Festival, 「Through Darkness, Connecting Hearts」, reflecting anew on the care for people held within Hangul and on the resolve of those who kept it alive through the darkness of their era. The festival ties the history of Hangul — created, protected, and enjoyed — to Dobong's own figures and cultural resources, opening a festive stage where exhibitions, performances, and hands-on experiences share that story with us today.