Hanwha Receives Culture Minister’s Commendation for 27 Years of Free Braille Calendar Distribution

Honored at ceremony marking 100 years since Korean Braille was promulgated
More than 1 million copies distributed free of charge to date
Producing 40,000 copies of the 2027 edition... Applications accepted through November 13

Hanwha Group received a government commendation for distributing braille calendars free of charge for 27 years.

Hanwha Braille Calendar. Hanwha

Hanwha Group announced on November 4 that it had received a commendation from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism at the “Ceremony Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Promulgation of Korean Braille,” held at Nurikkum Square in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The group was recognized for producing braille calendars that improve access to information for people with visual impairments and for helping promote braille culture.

The ceremony was hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korean Federation of the Blind. This year marks 100 years since Songam Park Du-seong promulgated Hunmaengjeongeum, Korean braille, on November 4, 1926.

The Hanwha Braille Calendar began in 2000, after a person with a visual impairment wrote a letter asking for greater attention to people with disabilities. After reading the letter, Chairman Kim Seung-youn suggested, “Let’s make it possible for people with visual impairments to share in the joy of the New Year,” and Hanwha produced its first 5,000 copies that year. Since then, it has produced and distributed the calendars free of charge every year, with cumulative editions exceeding 1 million copies by the end of last year.

The calendars feature braille alongside regular print, allowing people with and without visual impairments to use them together. In addition to dates and days of the week, users can also check practical information such as lunar dates and seasonal divisions in braille.

A representative of the Korean Federation of the Blind said, “Braille calendars are an important tool that helps people with visual impairments manage their own schedules independently,” adding, “We highly value Hanwha’s long-standing efforts to distribute braille calendars free of charge and promote braille culture.”

Hanwha Group will also produce 40,000 copies of its 2027 braille calendar this year and distribute them free of charge. Applications will be accepted through November 13 on the Hanwha Group website and through the braille calendar office.

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