Dr. Kim Seul-Ong, Director of the Sejong Korean Language Culture Institute, to Undertake Field Exploration in Liaodong Following a Traditional Ceremony at Gwanghwamun on March 2 Tracing the ‘Critical Link in the Completion of Haeryebon’ Between Invention and Proclamation… Opening a New Horizon for Academic Exchange Between Korea and China
In 2026, a historic year marking the 580th anniversary of the proclamation of Hunminjeongeum and the 100th anniversary of the designation of Hangeul Day, Dr. Kim Seul-Ong, widely regarded as the foremost authority on Hunminjeongeum in the Republic of Korea, will follow the arduous journey taken by the scholars of Jiphyeonjeon 581 years ago.
The Sejong Korean Language Culture Institute announced that from March 4 to March 7, it will conduct a four-day "Liaodong Field Exploration" to restore the footprints of Sin Suk-ju, Seong Sam-mun, and Son Su-san, who traveled to Liaodong in 1445 under the orders of King Sejong the Great. Prior to the exploration, the team will hold a Goyuje (a traditional ceremony to inform ancestors or spirits of an important event) in front of the statue of King Sejong the Great at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on March 2 at 11:00 AM.
Seeking the ‘Missing Link’ in the Completion of Haeryebon Between Invention and Proclamation
This exploration aims to re-examine the intense academic journey that took place between the invention of Hunminjeongeum in December 1443 and the proclamation of the Haeryebon (The Explanatory Edition) in 1446. In early 1445, King Sejong dispatched Sin Suk-ju and Seong Sam-mun, along with Son Su-san, who handled administrative affairs, to Liaodong. Their mission was to consult Huang Zan (黃瓚), a prominent phonologist of the Ming Dynasty who was in exile there, regarding unseo (rhyme books).
Hunminjeongeum was more than just a tool for writing native Korean; it was a revolutionary writing system designed to solve the long-standing challenge in East Asian phonology: the precise transcription of Chinese characters—a feat Chinese emperors had failed to achieve for over a millennium. Sin Suk-ju’s party crossed the frozen Yalu River in the bitter winter to reach Liaoyang, visiting Huang Zan’s residence thirteen times to seek his expertise. The results of these heated discussions later became the "flesh and bone" of the theoretical framework of the Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon.
A Four-Day Grand Journey: Heading to the Old City of Liaoyang and the Taizi River
The exploration team is led by Director Kim Seul-Ong and includes Dr. Kwon Oh-hyang, an expert in Chinese phonology from Sungkyunkwan University, and Ms. Zhang Limei, a Chinese researcher of Hunminjeongeum and a simultaneous interpreter. Notably, the historical significance is furthered by the participation of descendants: Shin Kyung-sik (Director of the Goryeong Sin Clan Research Institute, descendant of Sin Suk-ju) who participated in the planning, and Seong Byeong-seok and Son Byeong-sam (descendants of Seong Sam-mun and Son Su-san, respectively), who will attend the Goyuje.
The planned itinerary is as follows:
Days 1–2: Arrive in Shenyang to investigate the Shenyang Imperial Palace and the sites of the Gwanyeok and Huidonggwan (lodgings for Joseon envoys). The team will also visit museums to review records related to the Liaodong Guard (Liaodong-wi) and local gazetteers.
Day 3: Move to Liaoyang, the focal point of the trip. The team will examine the Taizi River—a critical route for exchange between the Ming, Qing, and Joseon—and the site of the Liaoyang Government Office. They will physically trace the route between the Liaodong-gwan, where Sin Suk-ju’s party likely stayed, and Huang Zan’s residence, gauging the distance of their "thirteen visits."
Day 4: Visit educational institutions (academies) and administrative offices in Shenyang to search for additional historical materials before returning home.
“A Path of Learning, Now Open Both Ways”… The Prelude to ‘Hangeul 580100’
In his "Chulsapyo" (Manifesto of Departure) released ahead of the trip, Dr. Kim Seul-Ong expressed his thoughts: "581 years ago, we sought out Chinese scholars to ask for learning, but now, I walk the historical site alongside my Chinese student. This journey symbolizes that the path of scholarship has finally opened in both directions."
He cited three specific goals for the exploration:
Verifying the spatial reality of the Old City of Liaoyang, where Huang Zan’s lodging was located.
Physically experiencing the distance and movement of the "thirteen visits" made by Sin Suk-ju’s party.
Discovering traces of historical materials that may remain locally to provide new clues for Haeryebon research.
2026: A Year of Overlapping Historical Significance for Hangeul
2026 is a monumental year in Korean cultural history. Along with the 580th anniversary of the proclamation of Hunminjeongeum and the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day, it also marks:
The 70th anniversary of the King Sejong Memorial Society.
The 150th anniversary of the birth of Ju Si-gyeong.
The 100th anniversary of the creation of Hunmaengjeongeum (Korean Braille) by Park Du-seong.
Dr. Kim is promoting the "Hangeul 580100" project to encompass all these meanings, and this Liaodong exploration is the grand first step. Dr. Kim, who has dedicated 49 years to Hangeul research and holds three doctorates, emphasized, "I will set out with the intentions of King Sejong embedded in every character and the desperation of our ancestors who bowed and questioned Huang Zan on those winter nights in Liaoyang."
The results of this exploration will be made public through academic conferences and educational programs, serving as an opportunity to confirm once again what kind of sparks the winter nights in Liaoyang 580 years ago ignited for the great achievement of Hunminjeongeum.
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