[Editorial] Gov't Should Lead Way in Saving Han'geul

UNESCO gives the Sejong Literacy Prize to persons who contribute to the eradication of illiteracy. The Hunmin Jeongeum was recognized as world "documentary heritage" by UNESCO in 1997. That proves the claim that han'geul is the most excellent writing system in the world is not exaggerated rhetoric, without even having to debate its scientific and systematic nature. That very same han'geul, however, is moaning in pain in the current trend towards globalization and digitalization. No small number of people think that a sign or slogan without a few words in English is somehow unfashionable. The language young people use on the internet has gotten to the point where it goes beyond the level of cryptography. These days anyone who call out for the need to "save han'geul" gets looked at as something of a pathetic ultra-nationalist.

The Basic Law on the National Language (Gugeo Gibon Beop) was officially proclaimed at the start of the year and went into effect at the end of July. It is the fruit of the campaign to save our spoken and written language. It is criticized for not being very effective, since its main clauses are optional and there is no basis for enforcement, but it is nevertheless significant legislation in the sense that it lays the legal foundation for devoted work in sharpening and polishing our spoken and written language, which is coming down sick.

It is shocking to learn that the national government and public agencies are using loopholes in the law to disrupt the saving of han'geul. It's enough to ignore the stipulation that official documents must be written in han'geul, but they say that not a single state agency or local government has the "national language officer" the law requires. You even see government ministries and their subordinate organizations in competition to openly put official slogans with English mixed in on their home pages.

Maybe it's too much to expect a government that is unexcited about making Han'geul Day a national holiday again to do much about saving han'geul. Should the government really have to be accused of "thwarting our spoken and written language"? If it possesses awareness about developing and refining the han'geul that carries the spirit of the Korean nation, then it needs to open its ears to the deep-thinking public sentiment that calls for Han'geul Dae to be a national holiday that doesn't necessarily have to be a legal day off.

The Hankyoreh, 8 October 2005.

[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]