PM vows efforts to uphold value of Hangeul in AI era

SEOUL, October 9 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Han Seong-sook affirmed her commitment to safeguard the essence of the Korean language system, Hangeul, even as artificial intelligence (AI) advances. Addressing a gathering to mark Hangeul Day's centennial, which honors the script devised by King Sejong in 1443, Han stated her intention to ensure the language remains cherished both domestically and internationally, even within the AI era.

As a former executive at Naver, a prominent internet service provider, Han emphasized the growing significance of language in fostering connections in the AI world. To bolster this cause, she outlined plans to broaden the pool of Korean language datasets utilized in training AI models, aiming to expand from 174 to 340 by 2030. Additionally, Han revealed aspirations to augment the number of King Sejong Institutes, which disseminate Korean language education abroad, from the present 273 to over 350 by the same year.

As the nation commemorates the centenary of Hangeul Day, the National Hangeul Museum is set for a revival. Following a fire in February 2023, the museum is slated to reopen in 2028, according to Lim Seong-hwan, the museum's director. Lim expressed the museum's role as a "repository of memory" and pledged efforts to advance Hangeul's cause.

Construction of the museum will commence by year-end following a safety inspection, with the reopening timed to coincide with Hangeul Day in 2028.