"King Sejong's Hangul and Nam June Paik's video art share a fundamental starting point in that they both dealt with media representative of their times," said Park Mi-hwa, the artistic director of the 2026 special exhibition 'Sejong and Nam June' at the Sejong Central Park Biennale exhibition hall. This exhibition highlights the communication and creativity of these two innovative figures, showcasing over 90 pieces, including literature and artifacts from the Sejong era and works by Nam June Paik.
Park, who planned the exhibition, emphasized that both figures opened new ways of communication in their respective eras. King Sejong created Hangul, a new script that lowered the barriers to knowledge and information, while Nam June Paik pioneered video art, sending messages of peace to the world. From the perspective of media theorist Marshall McLuhan (1911–1980), who believed that media technology changes human senses, behavior, and social structures, both are innovators who led changes in their times through new media.
In a written interview with this agency, Park stated, "If Hangul opened an era of written communication from the Joseon Dynasty to today, video art has opened an electronic era that allows for interactive communication, not just the domain of a privileged few." She added, "In this regard, the communication and creativity of King Sejong and Nam June Paik are closely connected."
The exhibition is organized around three themes: 'Communication, Hangul and Video Art,' 'Collaboration, Jiphyeonjeon and Fluxus,' and 'Art Expanding Beyond Boundaries.' This year marks the 580th anniversary of the proclamation of Hunminjeongeum and the 100th anniversary of Hangul Day, providing an opportunity to reflect on how Hangul and video art have connected and expanded technology and culture.
Sejong and Nam June: Pioneering Media Artists with Shared Ideals and PracticesPark Mi-hwa is an exhibition planning expert who worked at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art from 1997 to 2025, serving as the exhibition director at the Seoul Museum and the Cheongju Museum. He has curated notable exhibitions such as 'Ai Weiwei' and the 'Lee Kun-hee Collection' special exhibition. In August of this year, he was officially appointed as the artistic director of the '2027 Sejong Hangul Biennale.' This exhibition also serves as a preview of the direction for next year's inaugural Sejong Hangul Biennale.
One of the biggest challenges in preparing the exhibition was visually representing the intersection of two figures from different eras and fields. "Finding the artistic intersection of the two figures was my greatest concern. King Sejong can only be represented through literature and archives. To provide visual elements for the audience, we staged videos by contemporary artist Ryu Jae-ha and paintings by Hong Soon-myung together," he explained.
The work that most succinctly illustrates the connection between the two figures is Nam June Paik's 'King Sejong' (1998). Paik viewed King Sejong as a pioneering media artist. "For Nam June Paik, King Sejong was the first media artist who precisely and beautifully recombined knowledge and information like electronic devices and shared it with the public. He visually praised this through the creation of 'King Sejong.'"
Another intriguing section of the exhibition is 'The World of Reading,' which offers insights into the ideological foundations of both figures. It features ancient texts such as 'Gusosugan,' which is said to have been read so intensely by young Sejong that it harmed his health, along with 'Chosa,' 'Daehak Yeonui,' 'Jajitonggam,' 'Geunsarok,' and 'Yanghwisanbeop.' Works that inspired Nam June Paik's artistic world, including 'Understanding Media,' 'The Joy of Learning,' 'Lectures on Metaphysics,' 'On Permanent Peace,' 'The Book of Sand,' and 'Cybernetics,' are also on display.
Park noted, "By looking at what books the two figures read, we can understand their great achievements and the ideological backgrounds and foundations they left behind. Just viewing their reading records side by side will be fascinating."
Ideas translated into action. Visitors can encounter King Sejong's 'Hunminjeongeum Haerye,' which opened a new era of script for the people, as well as practical experiments with the new script in 'Yongbieocheonga' and 'Wol In Cheonggang Jigok.' Correspondingly, Nam June Paik's section features works that elevate technology into art, such as 'King Sejong' (1998) and 'Tae Naegi Autobiography.'
Collaboration is another theme connecting the two figures. While King Sejong collaborated with scholars at Jiphyeonjeon to advance scholarship and science, Nam June Paik participated in the avant-garde art movement Fluxus, breaking down the boundaries of art. The exhibition also turns its attention to those who led a new era alongside these two figures. Hong Soon-myung's oil painting series 'Surrounding People,' which imagines the backs of figures from that time against the backdrop of scientific instruments like the rain gauge and celestial globe from the Sejong era, adds visual interest to the exhibition. Across from this, 20 pieces from the '1963 Series,' which captures an exhibition held in Wuppertal, Germany, during Paik's time as a Fluxus member, and 'Voice Box,' a tribute to his artistic partner Joseph Beuys, are showcased.
Park expressed hope that visitors would approach the core of Nam June Paik's artistic world at the intersection with King Sejong, stating, "Nam June Paik was a figure who practiced all the ideas and theories he knew, viewing the world in a very interesting and peaceful way."
At the Heart of the Sejong Hangul Biennale is CheonjiinThis exhibition also marks the starting point for the first Sejong Hangul Biennale, set to take place next year. The specific outline of the biennale is expected to be revealed by the end of the year. Park is conceptualizing the theme around 'Cheonjiin,' the philosophical foundation of Hangul's creation. He aims to connect the form and philosophy of Hangul with contemporary art without limiting it to specific genres. "I am considering all fields of art. However, since it is the first edition, I believe a special exhibition showcasing the principles and development process of Hangul is essential. I plan to create a space that serves as the focal point of the entire exhibition," he said.
Park emphasizes the importance of differentiation. While many biennales focus on specific art fields such as ceramics, ink painting, or crafts, Hangul is a language. Therefore, a different approach from existing art biennales is necessary. "It is rare to find a biennale that specializes in language itself globally. We need to draw out the internal, external, and formal meanings of Hangul and integrate them with contemporary art."
There are also plans to actively promote participation from international artists. The goal is to expand the possibilities of Hangul beyond traditional letter arts like calligraphy, typography, and design, into all fields of art, including painting, sculpture, installation, and video.
The global spread of K-culture also enhances the potential of the biennale. "As Korean culture gains global attention, interest in Hangul is also very high. I believe that if we effectively connect the form of Hangul with contemporary art, the Sejong Hangul Biennale can establish its place in the art world."
The exhibition runs from October 9 to November 8 at the Sejong Biennale exhibition hall.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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