By Cho Jae-hyon
Staff Reporer
Pai Chai University President Chung Soon-hoon is known as a leading advocate for the globalization of Hangeul.
His love for the Korean alphabet is exceptional though he is the holder of a Juris Doctorate. Chung's first task after taking office at the Daejeon university in 2003 was to establish a course teaching Korean as a foreign language. It was the first time for a university here to establish a regular Korean-language in-house course for its foreign students.
``The course is aimed to meet growing demand from foreigners seeking to learn Korean,'' he said.
Chung, 57, has set up 37 Korean language centers in seven foreign countries as part of efforts to draw greater international attention to the language celebrating the 583rd anniversary of its alphabet today.
He has also promoted a campaign to wear clothes bearing characters of the Korean alphabet on"Hangeul Day."
``As far as Hangeul is concerned, there are no conflicts or rifts among Koreans. Hangeul Day should be a celebration day when all Koreans ― whether South or North Koreans, or ethnic Koreans living abroad ― wear clothes bearing Hangeul,'' Chung said.
He recently filed a petition to a culture committee of the National Assembly urging lawmakers to join the campaign.
Chung will meet guests to the school and take part in various events while wearing casual clothes decorated with the Korean alphabet instead of suit, a school official said.
``Hanguel is the best national brand for Korea. Clothes with Hangel designs can be more attractive than those bearing English,'' Chung said.
Chung, who is also chief of the International Korean Language Foundation ― a unit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ― plans to expand the campaign overseas.
Supported by Samsung Electronics and some Koreans living overseas, he sent 10,000 pieces of clothing with Hangeul designs to the United States, Hong Kong, Argentina, China and other countries.
He also plans to send 3,000 to those taking part in a gathering of Korean businessmen worldwide in Mexico in November.
Chung believes the demand for Korean language teachers will increase in the future. ``I think a larger number of Korean people will teach Korean in foreign countries ― as do native English speakers teach here ― as demand for Korean language teachers is growing rapidly abroad