The Hanguel Truck (한글트럭) brought public art and engagement to McCarthy Quad on Oct. 29, featuring an eye-catching, large-scale Korean alphabet-covered vehicle, photobooths alongside hat accessories and K-pop music that caught the attention of numerous observers. The artist and installation’s creator, Ik-Joong Kang, wanted to honor the creative spirit of Korean Language Day (Hangul Day).
The truck uses an LED media wall to display participants’ personal messages, at a large scale. The Samsung Galaxy AI smartphone technology enables instant message translation into Korean, along with individual unique Hangul typography. The space allowed visitors to write messages and their preferred names in English, which were transcribed into Hangul on Google Translate with the help of staff members. These translated names and messages in Hangul were packaged with colorful designs of each alphabet, which were either printed on paper with a small framed souvenir or projected onto the radiant Hangul Truck display.
Jessica Xie, a freshman majoring in public policy, said the cultural exploration experience was inspiring, as she felt included and welcomed when engaging with a foreign language through translation. She also compared it to her own native language, noting that “the Korean writing system appears simpler to me than Chinese characters do.”
Jorenelli Vargas Navarro, a freshman majoring in finance and accounting, said “the visual presentation of the Hangul language through graphics appeals to me because I only speak English and Spanish.” She explained how it was new and different to see things from another perspective as well. When “a Korean woman shared with me that my English vowels sound comically different when written in Korean,” she laughed.
“People’s understanding of language creates interesting observations about their perception of sounds, which I find truly amazing,” Navarro said.
This interactive space was not only able to establish a cultural exchange center through combining traditional and modern technology, but it also created a special value and pride for students who highly value in representing their Korean heritage and culture on campus as well.
Leo Hwang, a senior majoring in public policy and business who worked at the Hangul Truck, said he is continuously open to sharing and spreading Korean cultural awareness at campus events through Korean-affiliated associations: Korean American Student Association and Korean International Student Association.
“The event provided me with the Korean elements I needed at our school, as I sometimes feel homesick. This event reminds me of back home,” Hwang said.
Hwang said he was happy to connect with people both Korean and non-Korean students, creating an inclusive and engaging atmosphere, which he described as a “win-win situation” for everyone involved.