Sejong Mayor Choi Min-ho, right, and Oh Young-jin, president-publisher of The Korea Times, pose after signing a business agreement at Sejong City Hall, Thursday. Courtesy of Sejong City Government

The Sejong City Government and The Korea Times signed a business agreement, Thursday, to promote Korean culture, including Hangeul, or the Korean alphabet, and enhance its global influence.

The agreement outlines cooperation between the city government and the nation's oldest English daily newspaper to cultivate a Hangeul-friendly environment within the city by establishing various institutions and hosting programs.

Sejong underscores Hangeul as its core identity due to the city being named after King Sejong the Great, the fourth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910) and the inventor of Hangeul.

In line with this, the city plans to evolve into a "Hangeul Culture City." This vision involves creating an environment immersed in Hangeul and Korean culture, providing residents and foreign visitors easy access to them.

The city government and The Korea Times aim to promote the plan globally amid increasing interest in learning Korean and Korean culture.

Both will endeavor to organize a spelling contest tailored for elementary school students, with the goal of cultivating interest in Hangeul and promoting heightened precision in using the native alphabet.

As a journalism institution, The Korea Times also promised to support the city government's plan, which seeks to elevate the significance of Hangeul Day, a national holiday in Korea, with the possibility of holding celebrations in Sejong.

As part of its focus on developing the city as a Hangeul and Korean culture hub, the city government plans to create a vibrant community that offers diverse experiences in Hangeul and related cultural elements.

This initiative includes establishing an educational institute dedicated to teaching Hangeul and the Korean language, as well as a cultural center where people can experience Korean culture firsthand. These facilities will offer a range of programs for both residents and foreigners interested in the Korean language and culture.

Furthermore, the city government and The Korea Times will collaborate on a Korean language speaking contest, which was initiated by the newspaper this year. Both institutions aim to elevate the prestige of the contest domestically and internationally through their efforts.