Regather Hangul
The campaign, Regather Hangul is made to encourage separated families between North and South Korea to communicate with each other. The Korean War that occurred in 1950 resulted in many families being broken up. Many Koreans still hope of being reunited with their families currently living on the other side of the North or South region. This campaign provides integrative methods and innovative technologies. It includes Hangul typeface with an open and vibrant visual features, poster, stamps, annual magazines, a translation app that bridges the language gap between North and South Korea and a voice service for the older generation who are not familiar with digital devices.
Service
Culture and Society
Design
Jeong eun Elin Yoo
Year
2017
Background
After Korean War in 1945, Korea was now two countries in one - estranged due to different political ideologies. The division of territory and closer of the Northern part had an immediate and lasting effect for people across both borders. Moreover, throughout the past 70 years, the rate of development in each area has development differently. Causing rapid changes in culture and especially the language, making it difficult for them to communicate and understand each other although the letters of the Hangul language are the same.
Who is target group? Which challenges or problems do they focus?
The main target group is families separated by the division of Korea into North and South following the Korean War in 1950. They face significant challenges, including emotional distress from prolonged separation, the lack of accessible means to communicate and linguistic barriers over the past 70 years. The secondary target group is the second and third generations seeking to reconnect with distant relatives, and the new generation who need to be encouraged to become aware of and take an interest in communication and reconciliation efforts between the two Koreas.
Which user research methods were applied?
The project applied user research methods such as interviews with separated families and surveys to understand their needs and desires. It also includes interviews with next generation who need to become aware of this issue. These user-centred approach supports that the solution is succeed effectively.
What is the essence of the campaign?
Regather Hangul focuses on overcoming the issue of separated families in the Korean Peninsula by promoting communication and understanding through diverse services and methods such as translation apps, annual magazines, stamps and etc. It also aims to bridge the emotional and linguistic gaps between North and South Korea. This campaign is important because it addresses the deep emotional and social impact of separated families. It aims to provide a healing time for the first generation of separated families caused by the Korean War and the subsequent division of Korea in 1950, and to promote communication opportunities to facilitate greater communication for the second and third generations.
What has been situation improved? What are the most innovative features?
Regather Hangul project aims to improve the situation by helping separated families to reconnect and communicate and overcoming decades of division and linguistic changes. By leveraging the shared cultural heritage of Hangul and providing diverse innovative communication method, it specifically provides opportunity for these families to reconnect and raises awareness to next generation who have no idea about issue of separated families.
The innovative features include diverse activities such as the Hangul typography symbolising unity through traditional Korean patchwork, posters, the annual magazines, stamps and a translation app that bridges the linguistic differences between North and South Korean.
Hangul Typeface
The idea for the design of 'Regather Hangul' is derived from the Korean traditional patchwork called 'Jogakbo'. 'Jogakbo' is made from patching different fragments of clothing into one piece, and was traditionally shared between generations of family. Also, mismatched, it looks beautiful when put together. With this a basis, I want to promote the regathering of separated families and give further meaning to the beauty of reuniting people and language. The left side of the above typeface shows the consonants of the 'Regather Hangul' design, while the right side shows the vowels.
Poster
The poster represents the regathering of separated families through 'Jogakbo' using Korean letters. The letters 'ㅎㄱㅈㅇ' on the poster are consonants derived from the Korean words '한가족어', which translates to 'Family Language' in English—a reminder of our shared culture and connectedness. This campaign will be set up along the truce line area where North and South Korea meet.
Stamps
Stamps are designed with the 'Regather Hangul' typeface, showcasing each character. These stamps can be used for postal correspondence between people in different parts of Korea and by governmental organisations for public purposes, further emphasizing the idea of unity. It would be an alternative for the older generation of Koreans who struggle with using the internet or digital devices. Additionally, stamp featuring the 'Regather Hangul' typeface which is available to use in real has been produced.
Annual Magazine
The annual magazine addresses South Korean and North Korean culture, with a particular emphasis on language. It provides examples of how words and grammar are used differently in the two. Specifically, it details the various aspects of the language that have changed between North and South Korea, including differences in words, grammar, and proverbs. The magazine allows readers to learn about the words, structures, and phrases of their shared alphabet.
Translation Application
Throughout the last 70 years, the languages in North and South Korea have evolved differently. When conversing with one another, they can pronounce the letters but find it difficult to understand the meaning. A digital platform, specifically a translation application, aids in communication by bridging the language differences between North and South Korean. Through the application, many young people can communicate with their distant relatives and separated family members regardless language differences. Furthermore, it provides a voice service for elders who are unfamiliar with using gadgets.
What has been improved in comparison to existing solutions? Which technologies are implemented? How create value for users?
The Hangul Regather has improved upon existing solutions by offering a multifaceted approach that reconnects separated families and overcomes both linguistic and emotional barriers. Compared to previous services that merely provided opportunities for simple communication without addressing linguistic differences and offered dispersed information, this project expands and provides integrative methods and innovative technologies. It includes annual magazines, a translation app that bridges the language gap between North and South Korea and a voice service for the older generation who are not familiar with digital devices. Additionally, it utilises culturally resonant Hangul typography inspired by traditional Korean patchwork, along with posters, an annual magazine and stamps to foster a sense of unity and shared heritage. These features create value for people by providing accessible, meaningful ways to communicate, learn and reconnect, thus promoting emotional healing, cultural preservation and higher awareness about the issue.
How is a campaign expected to succeed on the society?
The campaign is expected to succeed in society by providing accessible and diverse ways for families separated by the Korean War to communicate and reconnect. Additionally, the campaign has significant potential for expansion. For example, experiential exhibitions and collaborations with modern virtual reality experience can engage younger generations, fostering a broader cultural appreciation and empathy both directly and indirectly. This multifaceted approach is expected not only to help reunite families but also to strengthen shared cultural identity, promoting societal harmony and healing.
Furthermore, addressing the issue of separated families can positively impact the recovery of family connections and basic human rights globally. This is not just a problem for Korea to solve alone, but a global issue that requires collective effort. The content related to this can be found in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Which positive impact will the solution have on society and beyond its core target group?
By facilitating communication between separated families, Regather Hangul helps to heal emotional wounds that have been strained for decades and recover family bonds which are fundamental to societal well-being. Additionally, it serves as one of cultural preservation methods, educating users about the linguistic and cultural nuances of both, North and South Korea. Furthermore, the project can raise awareness globally about the human impact of political divisions, encouraging support for initiatives that promote peace and unity.
