Hangeul Wall celebrates peace and unity in New York

22m ‘Hangul Wall’ installed at the Korean Cultural Center in New York. (Korean Cultural Center New York)

A 22-meter-tall public art installation featuring Hangeul was unveiled Wednesday at the Korean Cultural Center New York in Manhattan.

Titled “Hangeul Wall: Things I Love to Talk About,” the artwork is inscribed with around 20,000 Hangeul characters. Over 7,000 people from 50 countries submitted phrases during May and June 2024, with 1,000 selected for the final piece. The installation carries themes of gratitude, love, happiness, and peace, and “connects the hearts of people worldwide,” according to artist Kang Ik-joong.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by curators and board members from major New York art institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum, and Museum of Modern Art, alongside corporate figures and influencers.