A sample Hangeul signboard for Gwanghwamun in the Hunminjeongeum style. (C) Provided by the National Association for the Installation of the Hangeul Hunminjeongeum Signboard at Gwanghwamun.
On March 21st at 8:00 PM, BTS will hold "BTS Comeback Live: Arirang" at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul to celebrate the release of their 5th studio album. This performance will be broadcast live to over 190 countries via Netflix. It is reportedly the first time a major Korean event will be streamed globally in real-time on the platform.
On that day, the eyes of the world will not only be on the stage. They will also take in the impression of the space—Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwanghwamun Gate. Thus, I must ask: What will the Gwanghwamun signboard, the first thing people around the world see, be saying?
Currently, a Hanja (Chinese character) signboard hangs under the eaves of the third floor of Gwanghwamun. Of course, Hanja has been part of our culture for ages, and the signboard is a subject of discussions regarding history and original preservation. Therefore, our message is not "erase it," but "add to it." This is a proposal to add Hangeul alongside the original so the world can read it, without damaging tradition.
Not “Instead of Hanja,” but “Adding Hangeul”
The government has already set a direction. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) is pushing for a plan to maintain the existing Hanja signboard while installing a new Hangeul signboard under the eaves of the second floor. The Minister reported this to the Cabinet, and the National Heritage Administration expressed its sympathy and willingness to cooperate.
The core issue is not compromise, but progress. "Preservation of the original form" and "symbolism of a modern nation" are not values that must collide. Adding Hangeul is not an act of destroying tradition; rather, it can serve as a device that adds explanatory power, allowing tradition to communicate with today’s world. However, the issue of actually adding a signboard to the "front" of a cultural heritage site has led to divided opinions and ongoing debates over original damage and authenticity.
What is needed now is not a "factional war," but an execution method that ensures no damage.
Even for Just One Day: Making it Possible through ‘Damage-Free’ Demonstration
The problem is time. Official production and installation require procedures and time. In the meantime, March 21st is approaching.
The solution proposed by civil society is realistic. The "National Association for the Installation of the Hangeul Hunminjeongeum Signboard at Gwanghwamun," composed of 75 organizations including the Hangeul Society, has welcomed the government's policy and urged its implementation, even announcing a national launch ceremony on March 1st. Within this flow, a "demonstration" is possible for just one day on March 21st as follows:
-Temporary Installation (Scaffolding/Temporary Structure): Within a scope that does not touch the main body of the cultural heritage, a full-sized sample signboard is safely installed to perform a "showing."
-Projection/Digital Display: Without replacing the signboard itself, the name "Gwanghwamun" is presented in Hangeul through the broadcast screen or on-site visual effects.
The core principle is simple. It is not about "changing something," but "showing it without damage." This minimizes controversy while clearly leaving the presence of Hangeul in the scene the world is watching.
Gwanghwamun Must Carry on the Path of ‘K-Hangeul’ Opened by BTS
BTS sang in Korean, and those Korean lyrics led fans worldwide to learn the language. This performance at Gwanghwamun Square on March 21st holds great symbolic weight as it is the first time a new song will be unveiled at a space representing Korea.
Behind that symbolic stage, wouldn't it be a shame if only a "name tag" that the world cannot read were hanging? Gwanghwamun is the representative space of Korea, and the signs there are the most basic message Korea offers to the world.
In this context, adding Hangeul is not exclusive nationalism; it is simple national branding. It is a declaration that "We speak to the world in our own language," and simultaneously an attitude that says, "We respect tradition while remaining open to today’s audience."
ARMY and Citizens! One Request is Enough
ARMY is not just a fan club; it has been a community that extends the values BTS has spoken of—dignity, solidarity, and self-affirmation—into action. If so, this time, let us speak alongside citizens who cherish Hangeul:
“On March 21st, please ‘add’ Hangeul to Gwanghwamun. However, make a ‘one-day demonstration’ possible in a way that does not damage the cultural heritage.”
That one sentence is enough. The simpler the request, the easier the institutional consultation becomes and the fewer misunderstandings arise.
Gwanghwamun is the gate of Gyeongbokgung, where Hunminjeongeum (Hangeul) was born. March 21st can be the day the world finally reads its name. It is now our turn to step forward so that this one day becomes history.
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