Language Day Marketing Ideas: Creative Ways Brands Celebrate Korea's Hangul Day

Language Day Marketing Ideas: Creative Ways Brands Celebrate Language and Culture

Countries around the world celebrate "Language Days" to honor their national languages and cultures through special events. Korea's Hangul Day (October 9th) is a prime example, a day dedicated to commemorating the creation of the Korean alphabet and reflecting on the significance of the Korean language and Hangul. Many other countries also observe similar "Language Days," and businesses use these occasions to launch creative and meaningful marketing campaigns.

Countries around the world celebrate "Language Days" to honor their national languages and cultures through special events. Korea's Hangul Day (October 9th) is a prime example, a day dedicated to commemorating the creation of the Korean alphabet and reflecting on the significance of the Korean language and Hangul. Many other countries also observe similar "Language Days," and businesses use these occasions to launch creative and meaningful marketing campaigns.

If you're curious about other countries' Language Days, click here!

'Language Days Around the World'

English Language Day
The United Nations designated April 23 as English Language Day, coinciding with both the birth and death of William Shakespeare. This day honors the cultural and historical importance of the English language.

Francophonie Day (Jour de la Francophonie)
March 20 is Francophonie Day, celebrated by countries in the French-speaking world to honor the French language and its culture.

Spanish Language Day (Día del Idioma Español)
April 23 is also Spanish Language Day, marking the birth of Miguel de Cervantes. The day highlights the cultural heritage of Spanish-speaking countries.

Arabic Language Day
December 18 is Arabic Language Day, designated by the United Nations to commemorate the day Arabic became one of the official languages of the UN.

Hangul Day (한글날)
October 9 is Hangul Day in Korea, a day to celebrate the creation of Hangul by King Sejong the Great and to reflect on the importance of the Korean language.

Countries around the world use their Language Days to raise awareness about the importance of language and its role in shaping national identity, and businesses often launch creative marketing campaigns to engage with these celebrations.

How to Leverage Language Days for Marketing

Language Days provide more than just an opportunity to celebrate language—they offer brands a chance to deepen their connection with consumers and promote cultural values. Companies use these days to highlight their national language and cultural identity or create fun, creative content tied to a specific language. So, how can businesses use Language Days for marketing?

Limited Edition Products
Launching limited edition products tied to a language theme or using the unique typography or design elements of a specific language is an effective way to celebrate Language Days.

Language Education and Cultural Messaging
Companies can release educational yet entertaining content, such as offering free access to a unique font or sharing positive messages about the value of the native language. For example, offering a free Hangul font on Hangul Day or promoting a campaign that celebrates the cultural significance of language.

Interactive Events
Organizing events that encourage consumer participation—such as creative contests or collaborative activities related to language—can make the day more enjoyable and meaningful for everyone. For example, running a competition where participants submit creative expressions or designs in a particular language.

Language Days are a great opportunity for brands to go beyond just celebrating a holiday and engage with consumers in meaningful ways, promoting cultural values and strengthening relationships.

Hangul Day Marketing Campaigns

Here are some innovative examples of brands using Hangul Day as a platform for creative marketing:

The North Face Hangul Typography Collection (2024)

Outdoor brand The North Face launched a limited edition collection of t-shirts, hats, and eco bags featuring traditional Korean typography to commemorate Hangul Day. The collection highlighted the historical and artistic value of Hangul, combining traditional and modern designs for a unique, popular product line.

Domino's "Eolleomeokda" Pizza Box (2024)
Domino's Korea launched a special pizza box for Hangul Day featuring the Korean word "Eolleomeokda" (meaning “to eat together harmoniously”). The box also featured a picture of Korean football star Son Heung-min. This annual limited edition campaign, starting in 2021, reflects Domino's love for the Korean language and creativity in communicating a cultural message.

Image source 'The North Face' / Domino's

Lotte Wellfood ABC Chocolate Hangul Edition (2024)

Lotte Wellfood celebrated Hangul Day by releasing a limited edition ABC Chocolate with Korean consonants (ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, etc.) instead of the usual English alphabet. The packaging featured an image of King Sejong to emphasize the historical significance of Hangul.

Image source Lotte wellfood

Baedal Minjok’s "Kkublimche" Free Font Distribution Campaign (2024)

Baedal Minjok (Baemin - Food Delivery App), launched a campaign to celebrate Hangul Day by offering their newly developed font, "Kkublimche," for free. Baemin has developed numerous unique and creative fonts over the years. Their font development goes beyond simple marketing; it plays a crucial role in creating social value.

In particular, "Kkublimche" has significant meaning as it reinterprets Korean aesthetics and respects regional dialects. This campaign shows that Baemin is not only focused on business activities but also demonstrates its deep affection for and respect toward the Korean language and culture, fulfilling its social responsibility.

Moreover, by distributing "Kkublimche" for free, Baemin made the font easily accessible to everyone, offering both the design industry and general consumers the opportunity to regularly use the font in their daily lives. This initiative can be seen as an important example of how Baemin strengthens communication with its consumers while simultaneously sharing cultural values.

Image source Baemin

Toss "Find the Incorrect Character" Event for Hangul Day (2024)

Toss(a mobile platform for financial services) held a special "Find the Incorrect Character" event to celebrate Hangul Day. The event consists of five stages where participants are presented with a list of Hangul characters and must identify the one that is different or incorrect.

To participate, users need to click the "Find the Incorrect Character" tab in the Toss app and race against the clock to identify the incorrect character. If they fail, they can share the event with friends in a group chat to earn another chance. This campaign effectively engages users while celebrating the Korean language, showcasing a fun and interactive way for Toss to connect with its customers on Hangul Day.

Image source Toss

Conclusion

Marketing campaigns for Hangul Day go beyond simple promotions—they provide an opportunity for brands to show respect for their national language and culture. Companies using creative ways to promote Hangul and engage with consumers are setting an example for how Language Days can inspire similar campaigns around the world. As more brands recognize the value of celebrating language, we can expect to see even more diverse and engaging campaigns that honor the cultural significance of language and strengthen the connection between brands and consumers.