The Indonesian government has officially approved the use of the Korean Hangeul writing system by the Cia-Cia tribe living in Bau-Bau City.
Bau-Bau Mayor Amirul Tamim conveyed the news of the government’s final approval of the use of the Hangeul writing system in an interview with Seoul's Yonhap News.
Bau-Bau Mayor Amirul Tamim conveyed the news of the government’s final approval of the use of the Hangeul writing system in an interview with Seoul's Yonhap News.
Cia-Cia Tribe
This tribe, with a population of 80,000, is a minority living on Buton Island in Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Cia-Cia people mainly produce corn, rice and cassava. Some men fish and build vessels for a living. Some 95% of the tribe consists of Muslim believers, but folk religion also has major influence in their life. About 60,000 of the population live in Bau-Bau, the biggest city and administrative center of Buton Island. They speak the Cia-Cia spoken language which is on the verge of extinction due to lack of a writing system.
This tribe, with a population of 80,000, is a minority living on Buton Island in Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Cia-Cia people mainly produce corn, rice and cassava. Some men fish and build vessels for a living. Some 95% of the tribe consists of Muslim believers, but folk religion also has major influence in their life. About 60,000 of the population live in Bau-Bau, the biggest city and administrative center of Buton Island. They speak the Cia-Cia spoken language which is on the verge of extinction due to lack of a writing system.
Hangeul
The Cia-Cia adopted the Korean alphabet because Hangeul can more accurately record their spoken language than English, Indonesia’s official writing system. Aware of Cia-Cia's predicament, Korea's Hunminjeongem Society proposed the tribe adopt the Hangeul alphabet which it accepted. The two sides signed an MOU on July 21st last year and the society started writing textbooks, training teachers and building a Hangeul center for the tribe. It took a year for the Indonesian government to endorse the tribe’s use of Hangeul.
The Cia-Cia adopted the Korean alphabet because Hangeul can more accurately record their spoken language than English, Indonesia’s official writing system. Aware of Cia-Cia's predicament, Korea's Hunminjeongem Society proposed the tribe adopt the Hangeul alphabet which it accepted. The two sides signed an MOU on July 21st last year and the society started writing textbooks, training teachers and building a Hangeul center for the tribe. It took a year for the Indonesian government to endorse the tribe’s use of Hangeul.
Approval and Controversy
In the past, Korea tried to introduce Hangeul to minority tribes in China, Thailand and Nepal but the efforts failed because the central governments of those nations objected to the move as ‘cultural invasion.’ Indonesia's approval is therefore highly significant. There has been local controversy and some Indonesia intellectuals are still in opposition. To abate concerns and not to trigger any misunderstanding, Korea should continue support the effort and maintain a prudent approach.
In the past, Korea tried to introduce Hangeul to minority tribes in China, Thailand and Nepal but the efforts failed because the central governments of those nations objected to the move as ‘cultural invasion.’ Indonesia's approval is therefore highly significant. There has been local controversy and some Indonesia intellectuals are still in opposition. To abate concerns and not to trigger any misunderstanding, Korea should continue support the effort and maintain a prudent approach.
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