XMLCalligrapher Han Han-guk, right, poses with Jang Won-suk, president of the National Age of Success, after receiving a plaque at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday, appointing him as ambassador of world peace.
/ Courtesy of Han Han-guk
By Chung Min-uck
Han Han-guk, 43, also known as a world peace writer of calligraphy, was appointed Thursday as ambassador of world peace by the National Age of Success, a corporate juridical body.
The ceremony was held at the National Assembly Library organized by Rep. Park Jin with over 30 lawmakers and related officials in attendance.
“I feel responsible and honored for being appointed as world peace ambassador,” said Han. “I want to make more country maps so that the world can recognize the importance of peace.”
The calligrapher has been donating hand-painted maps of various countries which are made out of numerous rows of hangeul (Korean alphabet) characters no larger than one centimeter in width and height. Han started donating the masterpieces in 1995.
Regarding his contribution to world peace highly, 22 member countries of the United Nations including the United States, China and Russia currently possess Han’s map.
Han explains that the content of the map has three different parts.
“Seventy percent of the content is the culture and history of the respective countries. Twenty percent is poems related to peace. The other ten percent is the author’s idea of how world peace should be.”
Asked for his thoughts on the future of world peace Han said “Until now peace was about me and my country. But true peace can only come along when we accept each other’s differences in history and culture.”
Jung Won-suk, president of the National Age of Success said in a statement that the appointment of the calligrapher as a peace ambassador was due to Han’s contribution to world peace by giving maps to various countries including North Korea. He also expressed hope for the successful hosting of next year’s Nuclear Security Summit to be held in Seoul.
muchung@koreatimes.co.kr