[My Hangeul Story] 'Hangeul unfolds a brand new world'

Source: The Korea Herald
Author: Lee Si-jin

MANILA -- Guiding top K-pop artists visiting Manila was something that Grace Iriberri had never imagined when she started learning Hangeul, the Korean writing system, out of curiosity, some 10 years ago.

Now, Iriberri feels that the Korean language has expanded her universe, creating new connections with people not only from the Philippines but also from South Korea.

"My relationship with Korea started when I tutored Korean children as an English teacher in Manila," Iriberri told The Korea Herald at a cafe in Makati, central Manila, on April 16.

"But, Korean language piqued my interest when I first came across Park Hyo-shin's love song 'After Love' (2009). After enjoying different types of Korean music, I moved on to Korean dramas and entertainment shows when streaming services or YouTube videos were not as popular as nowadays," the 38-year-old kindergarten principal added.

After repeatedly writing down Korean lyrics, switching to Romanized lyrics and translating Korean songs, Iriberri started to sense that she was becoming familiar with the Korean language.

Hoping to share her Hangeul insight with fellow Filipinos, Iriberri started online Zoom lessons a few years ago, which grew into a large course with 40 students.