The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sat, July 2, 2022 | 04:48
Indonesian Tribe Picks Hangeul as Writing System
Posted : 2009-08-06 19:05
Updated : 2009-08-06 19:05
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter

A minority tribe in Indonesia has decided to use the Korean alphabet, Hangeul, as its official writing system, a Korean language research institute said Thursday.

This is the first case of Hangeul becoming an official tool for communications outside Korean territory, the institute said.

"A tribe in the city of Bauer and Bauer in Sulawesi has selected Hangeul as the official alphabet to transcribe its native language that has no writing system," the Hunminjeongeum Research Institute said in a statement. "The tribe with a population of 60,000 was on the verge of losing its language due to a lack of tool to hand it down to its descendants."

According to the institute, since last month, dozens of children in the tribe have learned, on a regular basis, how to write, read, and pronounce the Korean alphabet based on a textbook provided by the institute. Another 140 high school students in the city have recently followed suit, it added.

The textbook written in Korean tells about the tribe's history, language and culture.

"Among the contents of the book is a Korean fairy tale," it said.

The Indonesian city government plans to set up an institute next month to encourage other tribes in its vicinity to adopt Hangeul as their writing system.

This adoption came nearly one year after the Korean institute signed a memorandum of understanding with the city for the use of Hangeul as an official communications tool.

Linguists here hailed the decision, raising hopes that this will lead to Korean becoming an international language like English.

"It will be a meaningful case in history if the Indonesian tribe succeed in maintaining its aboriginal language with the help of Hangeul," said Prof. Kim Joo-won of Seoul National University who has initiated the landmark project. "In the long run, the spread of Hangeul will also help enhance Korea's economy as it will activate exchanges with societies that use the alphabet."

Prof. Lee Ho-young of Seoul National University, who penned the textbook, said "I hope the case will serve as a meaningful opportunity to show off the excellence of Hangeul overseas."

pss@koreatimes.co.kr
 
LG
LG
  • 'Crypto rebound will be more powerful than stocks'
  • Economic Essay Contest for University Students
  • Negative views of China among Koreans hit all-time high: survey
  • Baemin, Coupang Eats scramble to retain delivery drivers
  • Yoon dismisses China's claim that Korea is joining NATO's Indo-Pacific expansion
  • 1,000 people evacuated from building in central Seoul after tremor
  • Yoon heads home after attending NATO summit in Spain
  • Bodies of child, parents found in vehicle recovered from water
  • Ruling party's odd man out
  • Yellen to discuss supply chains, imposing costs on Russia during visit to Seoul
  • Korean studies struggles to grow despite success of K-pop, K-dramas Korean studies struggles to grow despite success of K-pop, K-dramas
  • [INTERVIEW] Bae Suzy shows another side in 'Anna' [INTERVIEW] Bae Suzy shows another side in 'Anna'
  • Korea's 1st queer romance reality show to hit air July 8 Korea's 1st queer romance reality show to hit air July 8
  • [INTERVIEW] Filmmaker points lens at North Korea's political prison camps [INTERVIEW] Filmmaker points lens at North Korea's political prison camps
  • Naver Webtoon launches horror-themed playground in metaverse Naver Webtoon launches horror-themed playground in metaverse
DARKROOM
  • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

  • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

  • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

  • Poor hit harder by economic crisis

    Poor hit harder by economic crisis

  • Roland Garros 2022

    Roland Garros 2022

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group