Williamson County to Proclaim Oct. 9 as Hangul Day as Korean Ties Deepen

photo/ Samsung Taylor Campus

Proclamation reflects growing economic, educational and cultural connections with South Korea
Samsung’s Taylor semiconductor investment and new Korean language program at Taylor High School cited in proposal
Formal recognition expected at Oct. 13 Commissioners Court meeting

By Catherine Wahrmund | TexasN

GEORGETOWN, Texas — Williamson County is expected to formally recognize Oct. 9 as Hangul Day, marking a cultural milestone that also reflects the county’s rapidly expanding economic and educational ties with South Korea.

William Kil, vice chairman of the Foundation for Korean Language and Culture in the USA, appeared before the Williamson County Commissioners Court on Oct. 6 to request the designation and submit supporting documents.

According to Kil, the county plans to formally issue the proclamation during its regular Commissioners Court meeting at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 13.

The foundation initially submitted its request on Sept. 2 seeking a formal agenda item for the proclamation. Because of the county’s advance public-notice requirements, the proposal could not be placed on the Oct. 6 agenda. Kil instead addressed the court during public comment and asked county officials for guidance on completing the process.

Kil said he was subsequently informed that the proclamation would be taken up at the Oct. 13 meeting.

The timing carries particular significance for Korean language and culture organizations. The year 2026 marks the 580th anniversary of the 1446 promulgation of Hunminjeongeum, the writing system that became modern Hangul. It also marks 100 years since the observance that began in 1926 as “Gagyanal,” a predecessor of today’s Hangul Day.

But the Williamson County proposal is also rooted in more recent developments closer to home.

The draft proclamation points to Samsung’s semiconductor operations in Taylor and the expanding network of Korean companies supporting the region’s semiconductor industry as evidence of a growing economic and technological relationship between Williamson County and South Korea.

Samsung’s presence has helped make the eastern portion of Williamson County an important destination for Korean businesses, workers and families. The economic relationship is increasingly extending into local schools and community institutions.

One of the clearest examples came this fall, when Taylor High School launched its first regular Korean language course for academic credit.

The program was established with assistance from the Foundation for Korean Language and Culture in the USA and enrolled about 30 students who are not of Korean heritage, according to the foundation.

That development is specifically cited in the proposed county proclamation as an example of how the region’s relationship with Korea is moving beyond corporate investment and into education and cultural exchange.

The foundation said recognizing Hangul Day would send “a powerful message of friendship, appreciation, and mutual respect” to Korean American residents and business owners who have made Williamson County their home.

The proposed proclamation also recognizes the county’s cultural diversity and the contributions of its Korean American community, while highlighting the connection between Samsung’s semiconductor investment, Korean supply-chain companies and the expansion of Korean language education.

Kil invited Korean American residents and other community members to attend the Oct. 13 meeting.

“I respectfully ask the many Korean residents of Williamson County to join us in supporting and celebrating this historic Hangul Day proclamation,” he said.

The Williamson County Commissioners Court meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Williamson County Administration Building, 1848 Texas Trail in Georgetown. The meeting will be held on the second floor.

If adopted as planned, the proclamation will designate Oct. 9, 2026, as “Hangul Day in Williamson County.”

The recognition comes as Williamson County’s relationship with South Korea increasingly reaches beyond semiconductor manufacturing. Samsung’s investment and the arrival of Korean suppliers have created new economic connections, while the Korean language program at Taylor High School illustrates how those changes are beginning to influence the county’s educational and cultural landscape as well.

The Taylor High School Korean language program was previously covered by TexasN: Taylor High School Adds Korean for Credit as Samsung’s Presence Reshapes the Community

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