Is it King Sejong's own handwriting? National Assembly forum to examine 600-year-old manuscript

A National Assembly forum will convene to examine whether a 600-year-old manuscript known as "A Royal Visit to Heuiujeong" was written in the hand of King Sejong the Great.

The King Sejong Memorial Society announced Tuesday that it will hold the "National Assembly Forum on Verifying King Sejong's Royal Handwriting" at 2 p.m. Thursday in a meeting room at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. The forum is co-hosted by Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Im O-gyeong and People Power Party lawmaker Kim Seung-su, with the King Sejong Memorial Society serving as the organizing body. The event marks the 100th Hangul Day and the 70th anniversary of the society's founding, with the aim of shedding new light on King Sejong's documentary heritage — specifically his personal handwriting.

The forum will objectively assess the possibility that "A Royal Visit to Heuiujeong" was written by King Sejong himself. Scholars will examine the document's origins and transmission history, the content of the record and its historical context, its bibliographic characteristics, and its calligraphic style and brushwork. The forum also plans to go beyond simple handwriting comparison by drawing on research from history, bibliography, Korean linguistics and calligraphy to reach a conclusion.

The King Sejong Memorial Society said it will not presuppose that the manuscript constitutes royal handwriting, but will instead focus on verifying the possibility based on objective historical sources and academic evidence. Following the presentations, a panel discussion among specialists from relevant fields and a question-and-answer session will be held to assess whether the writing is the king's own and to discuss the document's historical value.

Based on the research findings and opinions presented at the forum, the society plans to continue detailed document investigation and handwriting comparison, and to pursue scientific analysis if necessary. Should sufficient evidence be gathered, it will also consider follow-up academic research and the possibility of seeking national cultural heritage designation.

"Verified examples of King Sejong's own handwriting are extremely rare," a society official said. "We hope this forum will serve as a starting point for academically verifying the true nature of 'A Royal Visit to Heuiujeong' and for bringing fresh attention to King Sejong's linguistic and calligraphic culture and documentary heritage." The official added that the gathering carries special meaning as it revisits King Sejong's spirit and cultural legacy in a year that marks both the 100th Hangul Day and the 70th anniversary of the society's founding.