[Features reporter] Sharing the beauty of Korean calligraphy

So Sung-jin, what do you have for us today?

A key element we cannot exclude when talking about Korean culture is the Korean alphabet, also known as Hangeul.

More specifically, I want to show how Hangeul can be expressed as a form of art through calligraphy.

A delicate brush stroke lands on the paper.

These single strokes come together to create characters from the Korean alphabet Hangeul.

This is known as Hangeul seoye, or Hangeul calligraphy.

94-year-old Jung Joo-hwan has dedicated more than 60 years of his life to practicing calligraphy, and is one of the first to practice the artform.

“Hangeul was easy to learn and memorize. It’s also very scientifically made. Look at the beauty of these characters.”

Calligraphy in Korea has used both Hanja, which are Chinese characters, and the Korean alphabet Hangeul.

But last month, Hangeul seoye was designated as a national intangible cultural heritage recognizing its unique writing style using Korea’s own alphabet as well as its unique font and brushwork.

Jung runs his own academy where he passes on his knowledge of calligraphy.

“I like letters, but I also started learning calligraphy to control my mind more peacefully and cultivate a sense of virtue, which I think has been helping.”

“An old saying says that calligraphy helps grow patience and trains the mind. Not only does this calligraphy demonstrate the beauty of the written characters but it also can develop one’s own character.”

And calligrapher Lee Jung-hwa feels Hangeul is a better medium to convey meaningful messages.

“The reason why I like Hangeul seoye is because I can convey emotions through characters that really represent our sound since it is the Korean alphabet. That’s why moving forward I want to try everything I can using Hangeul seoye and find what I really can accomplish.”

The Korea Heritage Service said it will provide support for scholarly studies and initiatives aimed at promoting the transmission of cultural heritage.

Seoye is an age-old tradition, and with efforts like these to promote it further, this calligraphy could play a key role in sharing not only the Korean writing system, but also its culture.

Sung-jin, could you explain more on Hangeul seoye itself?

I briefly explain it in my article as the act of writing Hangeul or the Korean alphabet but it’s a bit more than that.

It also encompasses the traditional knowledge and stories behind the use of the Korean ink and the brush.

As such any recording of the lives on Korean whether it be metal, stone, textiles all imply Hangeul seoye.

More noteworthy is actually the various fonts and writing styles that this seoye comes in.

And how does one actually write it?

You would take an Asian brush which is often made out of animal hair, wet it with Korean ink and then draw each stroke by stroke.

I said these come in different writing styles, but each of these fonts have a personalized handwriting style and examples of some of these include minche, palace type and block type.

Why has it been designated as national intangible heritage?

Well, not only does it hold a long history demonstrating the history of Hangeul itself, but it also was an important instrument in various records including literary works, practical writing and letters.

It also contributes to the study of folk history and the Korean language history, suggesting it holds much cultural value adding on to the.

Fascinating to be such beautiful artwork.

Thank you for the report Sung-jin!

Pleasure as always!