Honoring pioneers who shaped Korea's alphabet and spread it globally

Korea's journey to a globally influential alphabet began long before the rise of digital typography dominating daily life in East Asia. The nation once heavily depended on Japanese typesetting for its printed materials. However, everything changed when Seok Geum-ho founded Sandoll, an industry that would revolutionize the visual language of the written word. Over four decades, Seok's pioneering work resulted in more than 1,000 distinct Korean fonts, leaving an indelible mark on the modern written language.

To honor Seok's monumental contributions, the Korean government has bestowed upon him the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit, the country's highest cultural award. This prestigious recognition will be presented posthumously during the upcoming 580th Hangul Day national ceremony at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul.

Hangul Day annually honors individuals and organizations that have made significant strides in advancing, researching, and promoting the spread of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet established in 1443 by King Sejong the Great to foster widespread literacy.

Seok is not the sole recipient of this esteemed honor. Another distinguished figure, Baek Tae-hyeon, vice president of the Korean Institute in Central Asia, will also be recognized with the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit. Baek's efforts have played a crucial role in the international growth and global recognition of the Korean alphabet.