Culture Ministry Accepting Nominations for 2026 Hangeul Development Merit Awards

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on April 30 that it is accepting nominations for the “2026 Hangeul Development Merit Awards” in celebration of the 580th Hangeul Day (October 9).

The Hangeul Development Merit Awards are government awards presented annually on Hangeul Day since 1990 to honor the contributions of individuals and organizations, both Korean and international, who have dedicated themselves to the advancement and dissemination of Hangeul. The awards comprise a total of 10 distinctions, including orders of merit, medals, Presidential Citations, and Prime Minister’s Citations. The final recipients are determined through consultation with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The awards ceremony will be held on October 9 during the “580th Hangeul Day Celebration Ceremony.”

Eligible nominees include individuals or organizations, domestically or abroad, who have made significant contributions to the development and promotion of Hangeul; those who have contributed to the globalization of Hangeul and the Korean language through research, education, and dissemination; those who have advanced the artistic, informational, or industrial applications of Hangeul; those who have contributed to the development of research in the fields of Korean linguistics or literature; and those who have preserved, utilized, and advanced Hangeul culture in meaningful ways.

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Nominations may be submitted by any individual, organization, or institution, and the nomination period runs from May 1 to May 31. Nomination forms can be submitted to the Korean Language Policy Division at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism via electronic official documents, email, or registered mail.

Details on the award criteria, required documents, submission methods, and schedule can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism or on the Republic of Korea Orders and Decorations website.

The final awardees (individuals or organizations) will be selected through a process that includes evaluation by private experts, public verification, and review by the Merit Review Committee after the nomination deadline.

Lee Jeongmi, Director of Cultural Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "This year marks the meaningful 100th anniversary of the designation of Hangeul Day, and I believe it will be an even greater honor for the recipients. I hope that people from all walks of life will show interest and submit nominations so that those who have dedicated themselves to raising the value of Hangeul and advancing our language and script, both in Korea and abroad, may receive the recognition they deserve."

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