6 dots that opened a world: Korean braille turns 100

Incheon — At an exhibition commemorating 100 years of Korean braille, visitors are invited to experience the art form through touch, rather than just observation. The exhibition, titled "From Dots to the World: 100 Years of Korean Braille," is currently on display at the National Museum of World Writing Systems, in collaboration with the National Hangeul Museum and Songam Braille Library.

The exhibition features an artwork titled "Elephant Without a Trunk no. 7" by artist Oum Jeong-soon, designed to encourage visitors to engage with the braille system through tactile exploration. Curator Gu Dan-bi explained that the exhibition aims to challenge the traditional notion that museum objects should only be viewed, not touched.

The central theme of the exhibition is the idea of creating a world where everyone can read together. This concept is built upon the foundation of the Korean braille system, which was developed to provide blind individuals with access to written language. The journey began in France, where Valentin Hauy's 1786 book "Essay on the Education of the Blind" advocated for teaching blind people through raised characters.

Tactile replicas of Hauy's book are displayed as part of the exhibition, allowing visitors to experience the tactile nature of braille firsthand. The exhibition also highlights the evolution of Korean braille over the past century, emphasizing its significance in promoting literacy and inclusion for the visually impaired community.