Hangul Day celebrations are spreading across universities and local communities in the United States, establishing themselves as annual events where students actively promote the Korean alphabet and culture. In Texas, even local government bodies are officially proclaiming the holiday.
USC hosted its annual Hangul Day event at the Korean Studies Institute, where Korean language students participated in traditional writing and folk game activities. Launched in 2022, the event marked its 5th anniversary this year.
Park Seo-jin, director and professor of the USC Korean Language Program, stated that demand for Korean classes remains steady and is maintaining stability compared to other foreign language courses.
Attendees ranged from non-Korean students experiencing Hangul for the first time to those raised in Korean-American households. Their motivations varied widely. Harmony Garcia, a first-semester language learner, chose Korean to pursue international marketing and music, while Korean-American student Jacob Hughes expressed a desire to converse naturally with his grandparents and people in Korea.
The commemorative events extend beyond USC. Indiana University Bloomington hosted a Hangul Day event organized by Korean studies institutes, featuring alphabet experiences and traditional cultural programs.
UC Berkeley has also continued its Hangul Day celebrations centered around its Korean language program and Korean Studies Center, notably commemorating 80 years of Korean language education in alignment with the holiday.
Student-led initiatives are equally prominent. At Binghamton University (SUNY), the Korean Student Association has introduced non-Korean students to Hangul and Korean culture through writing and traditional clothing experiences.
Changes are emerging outside university campuses as well. According to local media, Williamson County in Texas scheduled a meeting to officially proclaim October 9 as Hangul Day. Additionally, Taylor High School in northeast Austin introduced a credit-bearing regular Korean language curriculum starting this fall.
