National Museum of World Writing Systems Opening Ceremony

Finally, amidst the hopes of 3 million Incheon citizens,

the National Museum of World Writing Systems has opened its doors in Incheon.

Eight years have already passed.

During the 6th popularly elected Incheon Mayor's term in 2015,

I remember the efforts to bring the third National Museum 

of World Writing Systems in the world to Incheon.

Gathering opinions from academia, civil society, 

and the media, and my direct participation in the PT,

we finally succeeded in bringing it here.

I want to express my gratitude to all the officials who have worked hard 

to complete the National Museum of World Writing Systems in this long time.

I, too, as the mayor, am deeply moved to have been part of the process 

from the National Museum of World Writing Systems' inception to its opening.

After refining its pictographs, ancient China entered a cultural and societal renaissance

and grew into one of the four great civilizations of the world.

Modern Western countries also built the foundation of modern civilization

with the reform of the alphabet and Geumsok Hwalja (Metal Movable Typing Technique).

Our nation created Hangul, the most magnificent writing system on Earth, in the 15th century.

Incheon is truly a "city of writing systems."

In Ganghwa, there's the royal Joseon library, 

Oegyujanggak, which is an annex of the Gyujanggak,

and the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty that stored the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty.

As you all know, the Goryeo Tripitaka Koreana, 

made to resist invasions, was also produced in Ganghwa.

Moreover, Ganghwa is the hometown of Mr. Park Doo-sung, 

who created the Hunminjeongeum Braille.

Songdo International City hosts various international organizations and events

in which a diversity of writing systems and languages are used.

Having the National Museum of World Writing Systems built in Incheon's Songdo International City,

where world writing systems and languages coexist, is of great significance.

In the future, Incheon will do its best to be reborn as a world-class city 

where citizens are happy, blending the Republic of Korea and the world, tradition and future,

cutting-edge and nature, and emerging as a global city of writing systems.

Once again, I sincerely celebrate the opening of the National Museum of World Writing Systems.

Thank you.