Sounds × Hangeul, Variation of the Korean Alphabet

YUNTAE KIM, HYUNSUK KIM, NAMELESS, VAKKI, JAEWON SEOK, HYUNMIN WANG,
SUNG JANG, JINYEOUL JUNG, JEEHOON HA

National Hangeul Museum prepares “Hangeul Experiment Project” every year by collecting data and conducting research on Hangeul design. The exhibition Hunmingeongeum and Hangeul Design, launched in 2016 at the Korean Cultural Center in Japan, introduced the original forms of Hangeul design. This year’s exhibition in the Los Angeles Korean Cultural Center presents the phonetic characteristics of Hangeul, celebrating the 620th birthday of King Sejong.

Hangeul is Korea’s own alphabet invented by King Sejong (1397—1450), the fourth king of Joseon. Like English alphabet, Hangeul letters do not contain any meaning but represent only their sound.

Based on cultural similarities between Korean and English alphabet systems, the exhibition visualizes the sound of Hangeul and manifests the sound expansion and formal qualities of Hangeul. The first part of the exhibition “Hangeul Embracing the Sounds” compares Hangeul and English alphabet and manifests King Sejong’s heart for his people by introducing his aim for creating Hangeul and the phonemic characteristics of Hangeul. The second part “Sounds x Design” exhibits about 30 collaboration works by nine teams of designers and allow the visitors to experience the sound of Hangeul through media arts and various design works.

The exhibition encourages all visitors to enjoy the visual formalities of Hangeul embracing the sounds and its unlimited experimental potential.