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On Sep.8, 2023, which coincides with the annual International Literacy Day, Professor Lee Dong-Eun from the Department of Korean as a Global Language attended the award ceremony of the International Literacy Prizes held in Paris by UNESCO as a judge. As the Korean government reappointed Hangul Day,
which falls on Oct.9, as a national holiday to commemorate the excellence of the Korean language, the international community also designated Sep.8 as International Literacy Day to raise awareness of the importance of eradicating illiteracy. UNESCO created two awards to recognize individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to
this cause: The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize and the UNESCO Confucius Literacy Prize. The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize was established in response to the Korean government's request to nominate individuals and organizations that contributed to eradicating illiteracy, developing, and promoting native languages in developing countries in
1989. It has been awarded to three winners every year since 1990. Becoming a judge for the International Literacy Prizes is known to be highly competitive and requires a strong interest in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), education of language and letters, and relevant experiences and contributions. THE KOOKMIN REVIEW conducted an interview with Professor Lee Dong-Eun, who has a deep passion for the Korean language, to learn about her experiences as a judge for the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize.

1.Congratulations on attending the International Literacy Prizes on International Literacy Day. Please provide a brief explanation of International Literacy Day and the International Literacy Prizes for our readers.

UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Currently, the United Nations places great importance on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to promote the peaceful development of humanity. UNESCO's role is to ensure equal opportunities in the fields of education, science, and culture. There are approximately 4,000 languages spoken around the world, with 1,440 of them using the Roman Alphabet. Regrettably, some languages lack their own writing systems, which hinders the ability of their speakers to read and write. Additionally, approximately 30% of the global illiterate population comprises children and women. UNESCO believes that people's ability to express their opinions and communicate with others is crucial for creating a peaceful society. Without the ability to read and write, individuals struggle to find decent employment, leading to a society marked by inequality. Therefore, UNESCO declared International Literacy Day in 1966 and has been awarding the International Literacy Prizes to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to eradicating illiteracy.

2.UNESCO has designated two awards to promote literacy worldwide, one of which is the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize. As a professor and scholar in the field of the Korean language, what do you think are the implications of the designation of the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize?

The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize was established in 1989 at the request of the Korean government. Its purpose is to promote the spirit of King Sejong, who created Hangul in 1443 to make it easy for people to learn and use letters, significantly improving literacy. King Sejong's invention of Hangul was intended to benefit socially marginalized groups. This is because individuals who lack the ability to read and write often become socially isolated and marginalized. UNESCO also places a strong focus on children and women as the main groups in need of literacy improvement, as they make up a significant portion of the illiterate population. Thus, it can be said that King Sejong's spirit aligns well with
UNESCO's objectives to promote the benefits people can enjoy through literacy, communication with the world, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

3.We understand that Graphogame from Finland, The Himalayan Literacy Network from Pakistan, and Snapplify from South Africa were awarded the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize this year. Can you please explain each of the prize winners?

Graphogame from Finland is a learning platform equipped with educational games designed to help children improve their literacy skills. Notably, it is the first learning platform specifically created for children with dyslexia. The platform's key feature is its adaptive learning algorithms, providing customized learning opportunities in the form of games. It not only imparts basic literacy skills but has also reached and educated nearly five million children worldwide as of 2022. Moving on to The Himalayan Literacy Network from Pakistan, this program offers educational support to nomadic children living in the Himalayan regions. Many nomadic groups, such as the Bakarwal, reside in the southern parts of the Himalayas. This project aimed to provide basic education to Bakarwal children. Since nomadic groups frequently move seasonally, this program offered tailored support by providing tents and using them as portable classrooms. The tent schools have educated approximately 2,400 nomadic children in the Himalayan regions. Last but not least, Snapplify from South Africa is an edtech company serving as an electronic library for children across African regions. Snapplify is a private company, but it was selected as a prize winner because it offers its services at a practically free price. The reason for this selection is the provision of services through its website and application, promoting easy access. Additionally, the structure of the e-library is systematic and intricate. All the prize winners share similarities in terms of transparent financial operations, providing quality education, and maintaining a healthy operating system.

4.If there were a criteria which you paid most attention to while evaluating various businesses and projects on eradication of illiteracy, what would it be?

According to UNESCO, there are six stages with regard to language vitality and endangerment: Extinct language, nearly extinct language, seriously endangered language, endangered language, potentially endangered language, and not endangered language. The Korean language, made up of Hangul, is not an endangered language, and it gets safely
inherited by the next generations. Therefore, the criteria that I focused on the most when evaluating the nominated projects was the sustainability of the language's life. Human civilization has the duty to maintain its languages and transfer them to the next generation. So, I focused on stable intergenerational language transmission in the evaluation process.

5.It is known that the criterion to be a judge of International Literacy Prizes is also complicated. What attending the International Literacy Prizes did mean to you?

When I first heard the news, I felt both happy and burdened at the same time. Speaking about my personal experiences, I had aspirations of becoming an international civil servant. I wondered which major would be closely related to the field and decided to major in linguistics, as it forms the basis of humanities. I believed that studying linguistics would enable me to communicate with people from different backgrounds and understand the essence of human beings. However, the study of linguistics was highly theory-oriented, and I began to wonder how I could apply this knowledge practically. This is how my interest in education developed. Since UNESCO is also involved in education, I was pleased to be able to contribute to the field at last. I was also excited to have the opportunity to learn from other great co-judges.

6.You have participated in various national projects on Korean education, such as dispatching prospective Korean teachers to Central Asia. Could you introduce our readers to one of the most memorable experiences you had while participating in such projects?

From 2017 to 2021, I took part in a project that dispatched prospective Korean teachers from the National Institute of Korean Language abroad for teaching experience. Prospective teachers who wish to teach students in Korea also have a similar program where prospective teachers and students form a genuine bond and affection. I witnessed the
same situation overseas as well. After engaging in various activities together such as reading children's fairy tales, singing, and dancing to K-pop, we were able to establish such a strong rapport with the children that we even shed tears when saying goodbye. After the project concluded, some of the prospective teachers told me that they had decided to dedicate themselves to teaching Korean, which was touching and impressive.

7.These days, overall literacy is declining across all generations due to excessive use of digital devices in South Korea. What are your thoughts on this issue, and what efforts can we make to prevent this problem in our daily lives?

I believe that the accuracy of our language is being compromised to some extent, and this has an adverse impact on communication between the younger and older generations. For example, we commonly observe the indiscriminate combination of the Roman Alphabet and Korean letters in our daily life communication, which is challenging for the elderly to recognize and understand. Although languages undergo changes over time, I believe there are basic principles we must adhere to. Therefore, it would be great if we all made an effort to use correct language and avoid the indiscriminate mixing of Roman and Korean letters in our daily lives.

8.Lastly, could you say a few words on the significance of literacy and its impact in our lives?

What we must always remember is that we contribute to human civilization through our languages and letters. Although it might seem trivial for a person to speak and write, this eventually becomes the story of all of us. Literacy allows us to bond and communicate, ultimately helping us to sustain a peaceful society. Literacy is the beginning of everything, and I hope everyone can cherish the significance of literacy as well as the value of the Korean language

Kim Seo-Hyun, Kang Hyun-Jin
Editor-in-Chief, Reporter
aprilkim404@kookmin.ac.kr
hyunjinkang1228@kookmin.ac.kr