President Lee Jae-myung stated on October 6 that there are many instances of incorrect word usage in the Korean language, emphasizing the need for proper language use in broadcasts and government documents.
During the 43rd Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House, President Lee made these remarks after hearing an explanation from Jeong Byeong-ki, chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, regarding the revision of standard funeral home contracts. He noted, "Typically, we refer to it as a 'chamhwa' (funeral flower). Flowers used for celebrations are called 'hwahwan' (wreaths)."
He cited examples of grammatically incorrect expressions, including 'our country,' 'great person,' and 'keeping in mind.' Regarding 'our country,' he criticized it as "self-deprecating and insulting to our citizens," and pointed out that the media often misuses 'keeping in mind' as 'keeping in mind.'
He added, "Someone needs to point these out for the language to develop normally," clarifying that he is not suggesting a ban on abbreviations. He stressed the importance of being mindful of language in official contexts such as broadcasts and government documents.
President Lee described Hangul as a "great cultural asset" and urged the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to pay attention to its preservation and proper use as Hangul Day approaches.
Additionally, President Lee expressed his support for adding a Hangul sign beneath the existing Chinese characters on the Gwanghwamun sign, stating, "I think it's reasonable to have a dual sign. We should reach a conclusion by next year."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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