한글 문화의 발전과 세계화

Abstract

The Korean alphabet ‘Hangeul’ has been known to be an excellent writing system and its orthographic design is highly evaluated because of the beautiful shapes of alphabetic symbols and the aesthetic structure in which the symbols are combined to form a letter. Thus, Hangeul is considered to be a great item for the further development of font design. Even though lots of manuscripts written in various Hangeul fonts have published during 560 years ever since the invention of Hangeul, much more advanced typography is and would be needed in these days. Especially in the era of electronic texts, various fonts should be invented, which could fit with screen viewers as well as paper publication. In these days, the attempts to use Hangeul in various kinds of design become popular. Many kinds of artworks as well as industrial products based on Hangeul design are developed and produced and many of them are evaluated as having a high aesthetic value. Since Hangeul is considered, according to the polls done at home and abroad, the most important cultural item representing Korea and people around the world have a favorable impression on Hangeul, it is needed to develop visual culture vigorously, which uses Hangeul as a vital material. The matters to be considered first are such that the basic researches for the development of Hangeul fonts and Hangeul-related design are insufficient and also the excellence of Hangeul is not recognized well home and abroad. However, since the Korean people, who are known as the first to invent metal typography in the world, have well-established skills and senses on the areas such as computer technology and the art of design etc. and the recognition of excellence of Hangeul is getting better, the development of design products based on Hangeul will be advanced rapidly in the near future.