Mrs. Kim Hye Kyung Attends 'Hunmaengjeongeum' Centennial Exhibition: "It Resonates with King Sejong's Care for His People"

"People Should Not Be Deprived of the Joy of Learning and Communication"
Mrs. Kim Tours Exhibition Hand in Hand with Students with Visual Impairments
Touches Braille and Views Its Use in Everyday Life

On the 100th anniversary of the creation of Hunmaengjeongeum, First Lady Kim Hyegyeong said on the 7th, “Songam Park Du-seong’s heartfelt belief that people should not be deprived of the joy of learning and communication simply because they cannot see is in keeping with the spirit of King Sejong, who created Hunminjeongeum out of his care for all his people.”

First Lady Kim Hyegyeong delivers congratulatory remarks at the opening ceremony of a special exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of Hunmaengjeongeum at the National Museum of World Writing Systems in Incheon on Oct. 7, 2026. Yonhap News

Speaking at the opening ceremony that day of the special exhibition “From Dots to the World: The 100th Anniversary of Hunmaengjeongeum” at the National Museum of World Writing Systems in Songdo, Incheon, First Lady Kim said, “In 1926, 100 years ago, Songam Park Du-seong introduced Hunmaengjeongeum to the world, enabling anyone to read and write in Korean using six dots.”

First Lady Kim said, “I extend my deepest gratitude for Songam’s dedication, devoting his entire life to each and every Braille character so that all people could communicate freely with the world.” She added, “I hope everyone who visits this exhibition will feel the warm love embodied in Hunmaengjeongeum and share a meaningful moment reflecting on the light that has shone through the past 100 years, illuminating the darkness.”

Hunmaengjeongeum is Korean Braille, devised and promulgated by Park Du-seong in 1926. It is credited with broadening opportunities for people with visual impairments to access education and information and participate in society by enabling Korean to be represented through combinations of six dots. In his opening remarks, Kim Myeong-in, director of the National Museum of World Writing Systems, described the creation of Korean Braille as “a brilliant achievement in our cultural history and a great step forward for universal human rights and welfare.”

That day, First Lady Kim took part in a lighting ceremony to mark the exhibition’s opening alongside a student with a visual impairment. The six light installations on stage each bore part of the phrase “From Dots to the World.” She then cut the ceremonial ribbon with other attendees and entered the exhibition hall holding hands with two students from Incheon Hyegwang School.

First Lady Kim touched a tactile elephant artwork with her hands and explored the exhibition, asking the students, “Can you feel it?” She traced Hunmaengjeongeum Braille with her fingertips and viewed a Braille Bible, a Braille printing plate-making machine and roller, a Braille information terminal, and Braille labels on everyday items. When students read the Braille on an emergency exit sign, she also asked, “Is it easy to read? Where are we now?”

First Lady Kim Hye-kyung cuts a ceremonial ribbon with Director Kim Myeong-in and others at the opening ceremony of a special exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of Hoonmaengjeongeum at the National Museum of World Writing Systems in Incheon on October 7, 2026. Yonhap News.

After touring the exhibition, she took commemorative photos with students from Hyegwang School and continued chatting with them. When one student whispered to First Lady Kim, “Please come visit our school,” she replied, “Yes, I’ll come visit.” Another student called out, “The President too,” and she said with a smile, “I’ll pass that along to the President as well.”

The special exhibition was jointly organized by the National Museum of World Writing Systems, the National Hangeul Museum, and the Songam Braille Library. Descendants of Park Du-seong, representatives of organizations for people with visual impairments, and students and teachers from Incheon Hyegwang School attended to look back on the 100-year history of Korean Braille.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.