SEJONG — Sejong, designated as a Hangeul Cultural City, is set to host a grand "Hangeul Grand Festival" that explores the history and value of Hangeul through culture and art, commemorating the 580th anniversary of Hunminjeongeum's promulgation and the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day's establishment.

The Sejong Special Self-Governing City (Mayor Cho Sang-ho) and the Sejong City Foundation for Arts and Culture (CEO Park Young-guk) announced that the 2026 Sejong Hangeul Festival will take place from October 9 to 11 around the Sejong Lake Park and Sejong Central Park. The festival will feature various programs, including the "Hangeul Drone Grand Spectacle," "K-Dance, Sejong," and the "Hangeul Fireworks Grand Spectacle."

This year's festival creatively expresses everything from the creation and promulgation of Hangeul to Sejong's modern status as a Hangeul cultural city using drones, dance, and fireworks. In addition, the special Hangeul cultural exhibition "Sejong and Nam June," connecting Hangeul with contemporary art, will showcase Sejong's ongoing Hangeul cultural contents to citizens and visitors alike.

Hangeul History and Present Vividly Brought to Life with 2,000 Drones

On October 9 at 8:40 PM, the "Hangeul Drone Grand Spectacle" will illuminate the Urban Festival Plaza at Sejong Central Park. Using 2,000 drones, the performance will trace the history and present of Hangeul, featuring the image of King Sejong, the creation and promulgation process of Hunminjeongeum, and modern Sejong citizens.

The performance begins with the principles of Cheon-Ji-In (heaven, earth, and human) and the five elements of Yin and Yang behind the creation of Hunminjeongeum, proceeding to the completion of the Hunminjeongeum Haeryebon (explanatory text), and symbols of history and the present such as "1446" and "2026."

It also blends AI and digital technology to portray modern citizens using smartphones and earphones alongside a youthful Sejong and Prince Chungnyeong, demonstrating how Hangeul transcends being an ancient script to connect with modern culture and technology. Notably, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day, the drones will write out the names of 100 Sejong citizens whose birthdays fall on Hangeul Day, culminating in the display of the phrase "Hangeul Cultural City, Sejong."

Local Dancers Take the Stage in "K-Dance, Sejong"

On October 10 at 8:00 PM, "K-Dance, Sejong" will take place at the Sejong Central Park Urban Festival Plaza. Planned directly by local dancers centered around the Sejong Street Dance Association, the event will feature prominent teams such as Tutty, Omega, Ido, Dokteuk Crew, Daifoo Child, Run People, and Kideuk Kideuk x Wakjajikkeol. World-renowned street dancers and choreographers Monica and Lip J, known for their appearance on the hit show Street Woman Fighter, will also join as special guests to deliver unique performances.

Dancers from Sejong and across the nation will showcase diverse genres such as hip-hop, house, locking, and choreography. Ranging from teams that have won international performance and domestic national competitions to newly founded teams established this year, performers with varied backgrounds and colors will gather in one place.

The grand finale will feature the "Team Sejong All-Stars" joint mass choreography, uniting all participating teams to blend distinct genres into a single breathtaking performance.

600 Drones and Fireworks Ignite the Night Sky

Starting at 8:40 PM on October 10, a 15-minute "Hangeul Fireworks Grand Spectacle" will unfold, blending 600 drones and fireworks to tell the story of Hangeul and King Sejong.

The show opens with imagery of fireworks, the moon, and rivers, followed sequentially by scenes depicting Worin Cheongangjigok (Songs of Moon's Reflection on a Thousand Rivers), King Sejong's deep contemplations, consonants and vowels, and the creation and promulgation of Hunminjeongeum. It then showcases a youthful King Sejong (Prince Chungnyeong) and celebrates the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day. The performance concludes with a simultaneous, dazzling showcase of 600 drones and fireworks lighting up the night sky.

Bridging Hangeul and Contemporary Art in "Sejong and Nam June"

Throughout the festival period, the "Sejong and Nam June" special Hangeul cultural exhibition will be held at the Central Park Biennale Exhibition Hall. Running from October 9 to November 8, the exhibition examines the relationship between Hangeul, contemporary art, technology, and culture through the works of King Sejong and media artist Nam June Paik. It highlights Sejong’s vision as a Hangeul cultural city by expanding Hangeul beyond a mere writing system into the realms of culture, art, and technology.

Connecting Hangeul's History to Today's Culture

This year's Sejong Hangeul Festival holds profound significance not only in reflecting on the historical meaning of Hangeul on its 580th and 100th milestones, but also in demonstrating how Hangeul can expand into contemporary arts and cultural contents.

Park Young-guk, CEO of the Sejong City Foundation for Arts and Culture, remarked, "As we mark the 580th anniversary of Hunminjeongeum's promulgation and the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day, we are proud to present a diverse array of cultural and artistic contents prepared by Hangeul Cultural City Sejong in one place. We hope this will be a time for citizens and visitors alike to go beyond reflecting on Hangeul's historical significance and experience firsthand its boundless potential as today's culture and art."

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