April Fools’ Day Celebrity News That Turned Out to Be True April 1 is known for pranks and falsehoods, so entertainment news that breaks that day is often met with extra skepticism. Still, a number of major celebrity stories reported on April Fools’ Day — or immediately after — prompted “No way” reactions before being confirmed as true. One of the best-known cases involved Hong Kong star Leslie Cheung, who died on April 1, 2003, at a hotel in Hong Kong. The news was so sudden and shocking — and fell on April Fools’ Day — that some fans initially questioned whether it was a hoax. His death is still remembered each year as news that felt unbelievable. Dating reports can also seem less believable when they surface on April 1. When reports emerged on April 1, 2016, that EXO’s Kai and f(x)’s Krystal were dating, some people responded by asking whether it was an April Fools’ Day stunt. SM Entertainment soon confirmed the relationship, saying the two “had been friends and recently began to develop feelings for each other.” On April 1, 2023, news broke that actors Lim Ji-yeon and Lee Do-hyun — who drew attention for the Netflix series “The Glory” — were dating. Their agencies confirmed it the same day, saying, “The two are cautiously getting to know each other with good feelings.” The timing on April Fools’ Day, along with the contrast to their on-screen relationship, made the news feel especially unexpected to the public. There was also heartbreaking news immediately after April Fools’ Day. Turtleman, the leader of the group Turtles, died suddenly on April 2, 2008. He was 38. As word spread the day after April 1, fans and online users responded by saying they hoped it was not true. Because April 1 is associated with jokes, news reported that day — or right after — can draw sharper disbelief and, when confirmed, a deeper shock. Cheung’s death, the Kai-Krystal dating report, the Lim-Lee relationship and Turtleman’s sudden death are among the entertainment stories that lingered longer in public memory because of when they were reported. 2026-04-01 06:18:18

Singer Jun Jin’s Wife Ryu I-seo Says She Is Pursuing IVF at 43 Ryu I-seo, the wife of Shinhwa member Jun Jin, said she is pursuing in vitro fertilization at age 43. A video titled, “Why the lovebird couple Jun Jin♥Ryu I-seo began preparing for pregnancy at 43,” was posted March 31 on the YouTube channel “My Love Ryu I-seo.” Asked about her goals for the year, Ryu said, “I’m currently preparing for pregnancy, so I’m doing IVF. I’m going to retrieve eggs one more time and try implantation.” When Jun Jin asked whether the IVF process was difficult, Ryu replied, “I lived comfortably when I was younger, but even if it’s a bit hard now, I think it’s only natural, so I don’t feel like it’s hard.” She added, “I hope the baby looks like my husband, and only the personality takes after me,” expressing affection for him. Ryu said she decided to try to become pregnant after Jun Jin went to the hospital last year because he was ill. “Seeing him in so much pain, I thought, ‘If this person dies, how will I live?’” she recalled. “I thought if I had a child who resembles him, I could endure it. I suddenly became scared, and I seriously brought up pregnancy with my husband.” Jun Jin and Ryu married in 2020. The couple also discussed plans for a child during an appearance last October on broadcaster Jang Young-ran’s YouTube channel. 2026-04-01 05:27:19

Everland Unveils Upgraded Night Finale With Fireworks, Drones and K-pop Starting in April, Everland in Yongin, south of Seoul, will stage a large-scale nightly finale built around its fireworks expertise accumulated over more than 30 years. The park said the show, titled ‘Guardians of Light,’ is not a simple fireworks display but an outdoor multimedia production combining art and technology, with characters flying overhead, laser effects and fireworks. Yang Jung-woong, a leading South Korean director who led cultural performances for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, is directing. Artists including K-Herz, the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra and singer 10CM are participating in the production at Four Seasons Garden. Everland said the show combines fireworks, what it calls a world-first flight of large-object drones, K-pop and a story aimed at both children and adults. A rescue mission and a laser battle Everland said the revamped night finale begins at 9:20 p.m., when a “Darknight” spell sets the stage for the story. The park’s ‘Lenny and Friends’ characters have been reintroduced as the “Guardians of Light,” embarking on an about 20-minute adventure to protect Evergarden. The show’s setting draws on science fiction and a steampunk look. The characters set out to save a friend, “Jack,” who has been corrupted by magic, and fight a laser battle on a planet of darkness and chaos. As the guardians overcome the crisis, hope returns and the story ends with fireworks. Yang, described in the release as an “alchemist who breaks boundaries,” is combining thousands of fireworks with large-object drones, 3D visuals, dynamic sound, laser mapping and special effects. Everland said the scale is designed to heighten tension and immersion. Other participating directors include Lee Eom-ji (art), K-Herz (music) and Yoon Jae-ho (laser art). The soundtrack blends genres, including a theme recorded live in the Czech Republic by the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra, along with K-pop, EDM and musical theater music. Everland said vocals by 10CM’s Kwon Jung-yeol add to the experience for audiences across ages and nationalities. At a March 26 news conference at Everland, Yang said the concept is “sparkly steampunk.” “We dressed the characters in steampunk-style costumes and gave them interesting props like laser guns,” he said. “Steampunk is usually mechanical and rough. But for this show, we tried a new genre that fits Everland.” Yang, who drew global attention with a drone show using about 1,200 drones at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics opening ceremony, is now presenting what Everland called South Korea’s first large-object drone flight. Everland said five large drones will carry an object of its summer-season character “Bambam Man” in a group-flight performance. “Drones are always my favorite,” Yang said, adding that he placed a 150-centimeter “Bambam Man” object on a large drone. “Light comes out of Bambam Man’s eyes and collar,” he said, adding that five character drones will perform a short but intense group flight to K-Herz’s electronic music alongside Yoon’s laser art. Everland said a massive screen measuring 62 meters wide and 10 meters high will run 3D visuals, while garden lighting created in collaboration with British installation artist Bruce Munro will add atmosphere. The park said audiences will watch fireworks as music from the 82-member Czech Metropolitan Orchestra plays. Everland said the production is also aimed at strengthening its in-house intellectual property. Yang said it is an attempt to build a foundation that could later expand into animation and to create a story world that helps “Lenny and Friends” become more widely known. Jung Se-won, head of Everland’s Entertainment Group, said Everland is the only place in South Korea that has continued nightly fireworks since 1996, nearly 30 years. He said the new show carries on that heritage while putting the lion-themed character brand Lenny and Friends at the center. An indoor circus aimed at families At Everland’s large indoor venue, the Grand Stage, the park is also launching ‘Wings of Memory,’ which it described as South Korea’s only world-class circus production. The show was created through about 18 months of collaboration with Canadian circus company Cirque Eloize, which includes many producers who previously worked with Cirque du Soleil. Based in Quebec and active for more than 30 years, Cirque Eloize has staged more than 7,000 performances in about 700 cities across 50 countries, Everland said. The 40-minute show is performed twice daily in a dedicated indoor theater with about 1,000 seats. Everland said it blends stunts, acrobatics, dance, video, music and special effects. The story follows a girl, Eel, traveling through a mysterious forest with a swan, meeting spirits and a boy and building friendships. Everland said it added new stage devices, including a flying swan puppet and a moving boat, to deepen immersion. Cirque Eloize said it combines dance, visual elements and circus in every production. “They are disciplines you can see in other circuses, but we are different in that we put the story at the center and build the acts around it,” the company said. Jung said that in South Korea, audiences typically experience “art circus” only when Cirque du Soleil tours the country. He said Everland planned ‘Wings of Memory’ so people can see high-level circus in Yongin regardless of whether Cirque du Soleil visits. 2026-04-01 00:06:00

Seoul signals use of rarely-used emergency order to fast-track "war" budget SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) -South Korea is pushing ahead with an aggressive fiscal response to cushion the economic shock from the Middle East war, unveiling a 26.2 trillion won ($19.4 billion) supplementary budget aimed at stabilizing energy prices, supporting households and shielding key industries — despite the risk of stoking inflationary pressure with the won hovering at 2009 crisis-era lows. The emergency package, approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae Myung, is framed as a “war-time” budget to counter a triple shock of surging oil prices, a weakening currency and rising inflation. Lee is set to seek bipartisan backing for the plan through a National Assembly address on Thursday, while signaling a willingness to invoke emergency fiscal powers under the Constitution for a “preemptive and proactive” response to the deepening energy crisis stemming from the widening Gulf conflict. The emergency fiscal authority, stipulated under Article 76 of the Constitution, allows the president to issue measures with the force of law in times of severe economic or national crisis when legislative delays are untenable. It has been used only once in modern history — in 1993, when then-president Kim Young-sam enforced the financial real-name system. At the core of the package is direct cash support and energy subsidies designed to sustain consumption and prevent a sharper downturn. About 4.8 trillion won will be distributed to roughly 35.8 million people — around 70 percent of the population — with payments ranging from 100,000 to 600,000 won depending on income and region. The funds will be issued in spending-linked forms such as local currency or card credits. Another 5 trillion won has been earmarked to cap fuel costs and ease transport expenses, including support for a temporary oil price ceiling and expanded public transport rebates. Additional measures target energy-vulnerable households and fuel-intensive sectors such as agriculture and fisheries. The government said the budget is structured around three pillars — responding to high energy costs, stabilizing livelihoods and minimizing industrial damage while securing supply chains. Targeted programs include 1.9 trillion won for youth employment and startups, alongside funding for renewable energy transition, export financing and critical raw material imports. Unlike past stimulus efforts, the package will not rely on additional debt issuance but instead be financed by stronger-than-expected tax revenues, buoyed by semiconductor exports and stock market gains. Fiscal indicators are expected to remain broadly stable, with the managed fiscal deficit projected at 3.8 percent of GDP, slightly lower than the original budget. The backdrop remains increasingly fragile. Escalating conflict involving Iran and disruptions to Gulf shipping routes have pushed global oil prices above $100 per barrel, amplifying input costs for an economy heavily dependent on imported energy. The government estimates the supplementary budget will lift growth by about 0.2 percentage point this year — a modest buffer as global institutions including the OECD have already downgraded Korea’s outlook amid weakening external demand and mounting geopolitical risks. Still, the policy comes with trade-offs. While authorities argue the stimulus will not significantly fuel inflation given subdued domestic demand and the absence of new bond issuance, some economists warn that injecting liquidity amid energy-driven price pressures could complicate inflation management. Political friction is also building. The opposition is widely expected to protest to the broad cash payouts as a pre-election measure ahead of local polls scheduled for June 4, arguing the package leans too heavily on short-term consumption support. For now, the administration is signaling urgency over orthodoxy since Lee has indicated he may resort to emergency fiscal authority if political gridlock delays implementation — underscoring the government’s determination to act swiftly as external shocks threaten to spill deeper into growth, prices and financial markets. 2026-03-31 20:11:37

Jeonju International Film Festival Unveils Lineup, Names Opening and Closing Films The Jeonju International Film Festival, a major showcase for independent and art-house cinema, has launched its 27th edition with a theme of pushing beyond traditional boundaries. Organizers named Kent Jones’ “My Private Artist” as the opening film, signaling what they described as a distinctly Jeonju-style program. A news conference announcing the lineup was held Monday afternoon at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul. Attendees included acting organizing committee chair Yoon Dong-wook; co-festival directors Min Sung-wook and Jung Joon-ho; programmers Moon Seok, Moon Sung-kyung and Kim Hyo-jung; and director Byun Young-joo, selected as this year’s “programmer of the year.” This year’s slogan is “We Always Cross the Line” (Beyond the Frame). Organizers said it reflects Jeonju’s efforts to expand its programs and venues beyond conventional film formats, while refocusing on human sensibility and the essentials of cinema amid rapidly advancing technology. “Jeonju International Film Festival has established itself as a valuable platform where creative filmmakers from around the world communicate with audiences, and as a leading film festival in Asia,” Yoon said. Jung, who secured another term as co-festival director, said, “The past three years went by so fast I don’t know where they went,” adding, “Now that I’ve been reappointed after addressing what was lacking, I will prepare for a better three years.” He added, “After spending three years in Jeonju, I realized there are many fun and thrilling works, like hidden local restaurants. I will take responsibility so the festival can shine even more.” Min said he would help create a richer festival through “Jeonju-like” films and programs. The opening film, Jones’ “My Private Artist,” was first unveiled at the Venice International Film Festival. It portrays an artist’s life in allegorical form, depicting a warm world that coexists with everyday pain, organizers said. The closing film is director Kim Hyun-ji’s documentary “Namtaeryeong,” which centers on an incident in Namtaeryeong in December 2024 and examines changes among women and farmers and the broader social impact. Special screenings will include “New York Underground — The Mavericks,” introduced by newly appointed programmer Kim Hyo-jung, focusing on New York underground artists of the 1960s and 1970s and tracing currents in experimental film. The festival will also present “Meeting Ahn Sung-ki, Slightly Anew,” honoring the late actor Ahn Sung-ki and revisiting lesser-seen aspects of his work in independent and art films. “Ahn Sung-ki is another name for Korean cinema,” programmer Moon Seok said. Byun, selected for “J Special: Programmer of the Year,” attended in person and said it was “a great joy and honor” to return as a programmer 27 years after attending the first Jeonju festival. “I will watch films diligently in Jeonju,” she said, introducing titles she curated. Organizers said the “Possible Cinema” program, which drew positive response last year, has been expanded into an official section. Audience-participation events, including alley screenings and urban camping-style screenings, will also be strengthened. The 27th Jeonju International Film Festival will run for 10 days from April 29 to May 8 at five theaters with 21 screens, including Moak Hall at the Sori Arts Center of Jeollabuk-do and venues around Jeonju’s Film Street.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-31 18:36:20

Review: 'Project Hail Mary' Weighs Sacrifice vs. Survival Without Judgment * This article contains major spoilers for the film. The film ‘Project Hail Mary’ includes a scene in which three crew members — a pilot, an engineer and a scientist — talk before boarding a spacecraft meant to save Earth as the sun dies. Grace, the scientist, suddenly realizes he is the only scientist assigned and protests: “I get motion sickness even in an elevator.” Yao, the pilot, replies, “That’s good. There are no elevators on the ship.” Grace answers, “No. This is a suicide mission.” Ilyukhina, the engineer, adds, “We’re perfect friends to die together.” The pilot and engineer have already agreed to go. Grace has not — and never intended to. The mission is one-way: once they leave Earth, they are expected to carry out their task at the destination and then die, unable to return. Grace is a middle school science teacher ostracized in academia for challenging the theory that all life requires water. That work leads to a request that he analyze a sun-dwelling microbe called ‘Astrophage,’ pulling him into the Hail Mary project. He expects to handle research and analysis, not fly into space. But an accident kills the scientist originally slated to go, leaving Grace as the only option. Stratt, the project’s hard-driving leader, tells Grace he will be given time to decide whether to die for the mission: three hours. After agonizing, Grace answers through tears, “I can’t go.” Earth may be in trouble, he notes, but there is said to be about 30 years left. Stratt refuses to accept his decision. She stops the fleeing Grace, renders him unconscious and puts him on the ship anyway — a blunt choice of sacrificing one for the many. The film asks whether that decision gives Earth a chance to recover. Set against Grace are Yao and Ilyukhina. Unlike Grace, who has no family or pets, they have loved ones and wide circles of friends. The two appear to have accepted death long ago, even discussing what kind of death would be most tolerable. The review recalls a line from the film ‘Deep Impact,’ when astronauts face a final self-sacrifice: “A high school will be named after us.” In ‘Project Hail Mary,’ Yao and Ilyukhina’s willingness to die is portrayed with a light touch, but the stakes remain stark. Even if the number of people they might save amounts to a quarter of humanity, the film suggests, that does not make any single life insignificant. Still, Yao, Ilyukhina and Stratt move forward, executing the logic of a few dying for the overwhelming majority — grimly, calmly and at times with humor. Grace, by contrast, cries that he would rather live on Earth a little longer, even if only for a few more years. He sobs in front of Stratt. Even without anyone depending on him, the film treats his desire to keep living as a choice that is hard to condemn. The film does not rule on which side is right. It presents, on equal terms, those who want to stay and those who choose to leave to die, emphasizing that different people make different decisions. The review argues that the film’s gaze is warm in the way it acknowledges and contains those competing human impulses. It even invites viewers to understand Stratt, who forces Grace onto the ship, as someone acting from her own position and sense of necessity. The review concludes that the film leaves an additional, lingering impression: people pursuing what they believe is the best choice, from where they stand, can appear admirable even when their decisions collide. * ‘Leftover review’: A review of the smaller impressions that remain after the main takeaways from cultural content. 2026-03-31 18:04:14

Kim Hyo-joo rises to No. 3 in women’s world golf rankings after back-to-back LPGA wins Kim Hyo-joo, who has won the past two LPGA Tour events, climbed to No. 3 in the women’s world golf rankings. In the rankings released March 31 (Korean time), Kim had 6.71 points, up one spot from No. 4 last week. It is the best ranking of her career. Her previous high was No. 4, reached in March 2015 and again last week. Kim successfully defended her title at the Ford Championship, which ended March 30 at Whirlwind Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona. Following her victory at the previous event, the Fortinet Founders Cup, she won in consecutive weeks and raised her career LPGA total to nine titles. With her recent form, Kim is within reach of the top spot. Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand leads the rankings with 10.81 points, followed by Nelly Korda of the United States with 8.44. The world rankings are based on results over the past two years. Among South Koreans, Kim Sei-young is next highest at No. 10, down one place. Yoo Hae-ran held steady at No. 13, and Choi Hye-jin remained No. 15.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-31 17:48:00

South Korea Passes Law to Promote Hanbok Culture and Industry A new legal framework has been put in place to systematically promote hanbok, a signature cultural asset tied to Korean history and identity. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on the 31st that the National Assembly passed a bill to enact the Hanbok Culture Industry Promotion Act. The measure marks the culmination of efforts that began with its first proposal in the 19th National Assembly in 2013, after repeated introductions and expirations. The ministry said it establishes a foundation for promoting hanbok culture and developing the related industry. Hanbok, Korea’s traditional attire, has evolved over centuries alongside daily life. But as Western-style living spread, it gradually fell out of everyday use. In recent years, however, younger people have helped popularize modernized “everyday hanbok,” and the hanbok rental business has grown, reshaping the market. Calls have increased for policies that preserve hanbok’s value while integrating contemporary design so it can take root as part of daily culture. Under the new law, the government must draw up a five-year master plan for promoting the hanbok culture industry and prepare annual implementation plans. It also requires regular surveys of industry conditions to strengthen policy continuity and reflect on-the-ground needs. The act also sets out a basis for support including training specialized workers, identifying and awarding best practices, backing hanbok education, assisting startups and production, and promoting research and development. It designates Oct. 21 each year as Hanbok Day and calls for that week to be observed as Hanbok Culture Week to help build public interest. The ministry said it will use the law as a springboard to push policies aimed at making hanbok more common in daily life, expanding the industry and promoting it overseas. To encourage everyday wear, it plans to expand public-participation events tied to major occasions such as holidays and Hanbok Culture Week, and to strengthen cooperation with cultural institutions including national and public museums and local hanbok creative centers to offer a wider range of programs linked to hanbok. To support industrial growth, it will expand its “Hanbok Wave” project to help companies find new sales channels, promoting hanbok developed in collaboration with Korean Wave stars through major digital billboards and social media. It also plans to run a “Business Day” at the Hanbok Shop event at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in August and broaden cooperation with the industry, including improving access to hanbok workwear through online platforms. For global outreach, the ministry said it will pursue international promotion tied to major fashion weeks, aiming to enter overseas fashion markets. It also plans hanbok experiences and fashion shows at major international events such as the Olympics and Korea Season to showcase hanbok on the global stage. The law will take effect one year after it is promulgated. The ministry said it will broadly gather opinions from relevant sectors as it drafts the enforcement decree. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-31 17:33:43

Dongkook, Yuhan and Celltrion Post Global Marketing, Donation Updates Dongkook Pharmaceutical’s Centellian24 joins major global beauty expo Dongkook Pharmaceutical said its dermacosmetic brand Centellian24 participated in Cosmoprof Bologna 2026, billed as the world’s largest beauty trade show, held March 26-29 in Bologna, Italy. Now in its 57th year, the event is a venue for sharing market trends and business opportunities. Organizers drew about 3,100 companies from more than 150 countries and more than 250,000 industry participants, the company said. Centellian24 attended for a second straight year and ran a standalone booth to expand contact with global buyers. The booth featured hands-on demonstrations of key products including Madeca Cream Time Reverse; Expert Madeca Cream Active Renew PDRN; 360 Shot PDRN Active Serum; 360 Shot PDRN Lifting Eye Cream; 360 Shot PDRN Glowing Eye Patch; and the Madeca Prime Max beauty device. Yuhan holds blood drive across sites to support supply and cancer patients Yuhan said it ran a “blood donation campaign to save lives” across its operations, including its Daebang-dong headquarters as well as research facilities and plants, to help ease blood shortages and support cancer patients. The campaign was held over three days — March 16, 17 and 20 — the company said. Yuhan has run the program since 2008 and holds it regularly twice a year, in the first and second halves. A total of 71 employees participated this time, bringing cumulative participation to about 2,500, it said. Employees also donated blood donation certificates, which are to be used through the Korea Childhood Leukemia Foundation to support pediatric cancer patients who need transfusions. Celltrion holds Brazil launch event for autoimmune drug Omliclo Celltrion said it held a launch event in Brazil — the largest pharmaceutical market in Latin America — for Omliclo, an autoimmune disease treatment whose active ingredient is omalizumab. About 80 people attended, including Brazilian specialists in allergy, respiratory medicine and dermatology, as well as representatives from insurers, the company said. Presentations covered Omliclo’s clinical data, global prescribing experience and its value in real-world care settings. Attendees showed strong interest in prescribing experience and expressed expectations for broader use, Celltrion said. Celltrion’s Brazil unit has continued local marketing since launching Omliclo there in November. It recently won a bid from the Santa Catarina state government, securing an early supply channel, the company said. With Omliclo launched as a “first mover” in Brazil, Celltrion said it expects additional bid wins to continue. Jaseng delivers rice donation in Busan and launches local volunteer group Jaseng Medical Foundation said it delivered 480 bags of 10-kilogram white rice to the Busan Community Chest on March 30 to support food needs among vulnerable residents. The Busan city government will assist with administrative support for recipients, while the Busan Community Chest will select households in need, the foundation said. Each selected household will receive 10 kilograms of rice, to be distributed through food banks and food markets across Busan’s 16 districts and counties. A launch ceremony for the Busan Jaseng Volunteer Group was also held after the donation event. The group, formed with 21 members, is a private volunteer organization made up of local residents and aims to build sustained ties with the community, the foundation said. Busan Jaseng Korean Medicine Hospital will support its operations and activities.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-31 17:29:12

Debate Flares Over Adding Hangul Signboard to Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Gate "This issue should be viewed from the perspective of making new history and properly showing national identity." (Lee Geon-beom, head of the Hangul Culture Solidarity) "Whatever the justification, if it goes this way, Gwanghwamun and Gwanghwamun Square will be reduced to a ruler's 'playground.'" (Choi Jong-deok, former head of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage) On March 31, a forum at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Seoul highlighted sharp divisions over whether to add a Hangul signboard at Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Supporters argued for a “creative inheritance of the spirit of the times,” while opponents stressed restoring the gate to its original form. Lee Geon-beom, a presenter at the forum, said South Korea's modern identity should be expressed at Gwanghwamun, calling it a national symbolic space and the birthplace of Hangul. Hanging a Hangul signboard, he said, would reflect not only past identity but also that of the present and future. Lee argued that Hangul is central to national identity under the Constitution and that a Hangul signboard would help restore that identity. He cited a 2004 Constitutional Court ruling that described as basic constitutional matters of national identity “making our language the national language and our script Hangul,” along with defining territory and clarifying where sovereignty resides. Lee said South Korea should show the world the history of Hangul as a national script and an independent culture. He added that the ideals of a democratic republic are rooted in King Sejong's “spirit of serving the people,” and said a Hangul signboard should hang at the center of the country. Opponents emphasized the importance of restoring the original form. Choi Jong-deok, another presenter, said the past revives memory and shows who people are, arguing that the goal should not be to create something that never existed but to reveal, among the traces of history, what is desirable for the present and future. Choi said removing the legacy of 36 years of Japanese imperial rule that trampled Joseon palaces and restoring the palace symbol that lasted more than 500 years is a legitimate right for Koreans living today. Choi pointed to cases including a change to the Gwanghwamun signboard under the Park Chung-hee government and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's plan to install 22 sculptures symbolizing countries that fought in the Korean War. He criticized the area around Gwanghwamun as increasingly becoming a “propaganda site” for those in power, and argued that the past should be left to testify to the society and culture of its time. Hong Seok-ju, a professor of architecture at Seoil University, said it would be appropriate to consider a Hangul signboard after the restoration of Gyeongbokgung is fully completed. He said changes should be made quickly if a plan closer to the original is found, but moving further away from the original requires caution. Kim Hyeong-woo, head of the Korean Peninsula Culture and Tourism Research Institute, argued that Gwanghwamun, a major tourist landmark, should have a Hangul signboard. He said the gate does not currently convey a strong narrative as the birthplace of Hangul, and that a Hangul signboard would symbolically declare that Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung, is where Hangul was created. Another participant suggested considering new high-tech media rather than a signboard. Lee Kang-min, a professor of architecture at the Korea National University of Arts, said Hangul is among the most scientific writing systems and best suited to a digital environment. He said it would be desirable if Hangul could be implemented in Gwanghwamun Square in a way that contrasts with ink-based culture and presents forward-looking messages about South Korea's future. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-31 17:27:29