Oldest Hangeul Letter - Conveying Hearts Across a Thousand Miles

The <Nashingeol Hangeul Letter>, a collection of the Daejeon Museum of Art, was finally selected for the 2025 「Museum × Meeting」 public contest project organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Museum Association on March 21st.

The <Nashingeol Hangeul Letter> is the oldest existing Hangeul letter, sent by Nashingeol, a military officer dispatched to Yeongan-do (present-day Hamgyeongbuk-do), to his wife, Shin Chang-maeng, in Hoedeok, Daejeon. It is noted as a historical example of how Hangeul, after its creation, allowed people to directly convey their feelings to family members far away.

This contest is a new project launched to coincide with the 2025 Museum and Art Gallery Week (scheduled for May) under the theme of "The First, and the Beginning." Among the applications from 89 institutions nationwide, 50 collections were selected.

Among these, the Daejeon Museum of Art and Hannam University Museum's <Map of the Recovery of Pyongyang Fortress> were among those selected in Daejeon, achieving significant results.

Kim Seon-ja, Director of the Daejeon Museum of Art, expressed her feelings, saying, "It is meaningful that the historical significance and value of our collection will be known nationwide through the selection of this public contest project." She added, "In May, the month of family, we plan to showcase the Nashingeol Hangeul Letter in various forms at museums and art galleries, and we will provide a meaningful time to reflect on family love and communication."