On October 6, 2023 we have the pleasure to unveil the new Open Letter: “Native Tongue” by Minsook Kang.

Minsook’s letter reflects her ongoing research project “Native Tongue”. This project encompasses a beautiful appropriation: In 2009, the Cia-Cia community, an ethnic minority residing on Buton Island, Sulawesi, Indonesia, adopted the Korean alphabet, Hangul, as their official script in an effort to preserve their endangered language. In 2022, Minsook went to Indonesia to delve into the anthropological dimensions of this remarkable adoption. The Open Letter features a table showcasing her findings from her interviews with the Cia-Cia community. They adopted ‘old Hangul’ symbols, no longer in use in the Korean language.

”Native Tongue” is accessible anytime from the street at Boekhorststraat 128 until 3 November 2023!