[Weekender] Waiting on the North: Unified Korean dictionary project's long journey

How long does it take to create a dictionary? The first comprehensive German dictionary, compiled by the Brothers Grimm in 1838, took more than 120 years to complete.
In 1911, during the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula, the quest to create the first-ever Korean dictionary began. The dictionary was published in 1947, two years after Korea's liberation in 1945.
Another quest to create an extensive and comprehensive Korean dictionary called "Gyeoremal-Keunsajeon” has been underway since 2005.
The objective of the "Gyeoremal-Keunsajeon” is to establish a linguistic foundation for the Korean language, benefiting not only the two Koreas -- whose linguistic divide continues to deepen -- but also Koreans living outside the country.
An idea to create a unified dictionary for the two Koreas emerged in 1989 when the late South Korean pastor, theologian, poet and activist Moon Ik-hwan suggested it while meeting with the late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung during Moon’s visit to Pyongyang.
In 2004, a joint board was formed that would create such a dictionary by no later than 2011.
“Once we are unified, the dictionary would play a conducive role, reducing confusion in communications between the South and North Korean people, which is indirectly experienced through some 34,000 North Korean defectors here,” Min Hyun-sik, the chairman of the Joint Board of South and North Korea for the Compilation of Gyeoremal-Keunsajeon, told The Korea Herald on Wednesday.
相关文章
- SEONGNAM, Gyeonggi Province — South Korea's premier aerospace and defense exhibition, aimed at2023-11-30
Sabre fencer, swimming relay team eye historic medals
South Korean fencer Gu Bon-gil will take aim at history when he takes the piste for the men's i2023-11-30- In director Kim Jee-woon’s upcoming black comedy, “Cobweb,” Jung Soo-jung, also known as Krystal fro2023-11-30
Korea’s parental leave benefits lag behind OECD average
Korea's parental leave benefits average at 44.6 percent of actual wages, placing it near the bo2023-11-30Seoul shares open higher on US gains
South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Tuesday tracking overnight gains on Wall Street.The be2023-11-30Seoul shares close lower amid woes over Fed's drawn
South Korean stocks closed lower for the second consecutive day Friday amid concerns the US Federal2023-11-30
最新评论