"Replacing Difficult Administrative Terms with Plain Korean"... Jeonnam-Gwangju Moves to Improve Public Language

Entries Accepted Through November 24 for the "Public Officials' Press Release Improvement" Contest with Chonnam National University's Korean Language and Culture Center

Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City is holding a press release improvement contest for public officials to replace difficult administrative terms and foreign loanwords commonly used in official documents and press releases with plain Korean.

Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City said on November 10 that it is carrying out a project to improve public language together with the Korean Language and Culture Center at Chonnam National University. Since 2015, the two organizations have surveyed official documents to identify difficult terms and incorrect expressions used in administrative documents and recommend ways to improve them.

Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City

This year, they are again selecting 10 administrative documents each month, including press releases and public notices, and assessing whether their sentence structure, vocabulary, and use of administrative terms are appropriate. They are also producing “Nemososik,” which introduces administrative terms that are easily misused and their correct alternatives, and sharing it with staff.

In June this year, they held a training session on the proper use of public language at Mudeung Hall in the Gwangju Government Complex for 83 employees from the city, its autonomous districts, and related organizations. The session covered the concept of public language and rules for writing foreign loanwords, as well as how to write press releases.

This time, the city is holding a contest in which public officials will revise press releases themselves. The theme is “Press Releases Written in Plain Korean and Refined Korean Terms,” and entries will be accepted through November 24. Participants can either replace complicated expressions in existing press releases with plain Korean or write new press releases that are easy for anyone to understand.

Entries will be evaluated based on the use of plain Korean and refined terms, suitability as public language, clarity of sentences, appropriateness of administrative terms, and consistency of expression. Public officials wishing to participate can submit their press releases to the email address of the Korean Language and Culture Center at Chonnam National University.

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