Two hundred citizens and experts will gather to engage in a heated discussion about the 'bilingual signage at Gwanghwamun.'
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on July 26 that they will hold the first 'Public Forum' at Yonsei University's Baekyangnuri, focusing on the topic of 'bilingual signage at Gwanghwamun.'
The 'Public Forum' is designed to broadly incorporate diverse public opinions into the policy-making process. Two hundred citizens, selected through a prior application process, will attend to share various viewpoints and gain a deeper understanding of differing perspectives. The forum will not only exchange simple pro and con opinions but will also explore policy issues from multiple angles, including history and culture, in search of practical policy directions.
The forum will feature expert presentations, small group discussions involving citizens, and a general discussion format, allowing participants to share their views and collectively summarize their final positions. The event will be live-streamed on KTV's YouTube channel, and participants will be able to express their opinions in real-time through mobile voting.
Experts from various fields, including cultural heritage, history, the Korean language, and urban landscape, will participate in the presentations and discussions. Lee Sang-yeol, head of the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, will present a summary of the public discourse and feedback collected so far. Park Hyun-mo, director of the Sejong National Management Institute, Jeong Jae-hwan, co-representative of the Korean Language Culture Association, Kim Hyun-kyung, a professor at the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, and Bae Ung-kyu, a professor at Chung-Ang University, will continue with presentations and discussions. The session will be chaired by Yang Hyun-mi, a professor at Sangmyung University.
During the discussions, citizens and experts will exchange views on the nature of Gwanghwamun, the validity of installing bilingual signage, and the significance of cultural heritage preservation.
The government plans to broadly reference the diverse opinions presented at this forum in future policy review processes. Additionally, it aims to continuously develop the 'Public Forum' as a representative deliberative platform for citizens to directly participate in the policy formation process.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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