[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyun-ah ] SKTelecom(017670)has digitally restored “Malmoi,” the manuscript of a Korean language dictionary from over 100 years ago, using artificial intelligence (AI). Based on the handwriting in the original manuscript, the company also created the “Malmoi” font.

SKTelecom announced on the 7th that it will launch the “2026 Malmoi” campaign in collaboration with the National Institute of the Korean Language and the National Hangeul Museum to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Hangeul Day.

“Malmoi” is the title of the first Korean language dictionary manuscript, written in the 1910s by Hangul scholar Ju Si-gyeong (1876–1914) and his students. Although it was never actually published after Ju Si-gyeong passed away just as it was nearing completion, it is regarded as having laid the foundation for Korean language dictionaries.

SKTelecom analyzed scanned copies of the manuscript using its proprietary AI foundation model, “A.X K2,” to learn the shapes of consonants and vowels.

Based on this, the company created the “Malmoi Typeface,” which captures the characteristics of the handwriting from that era. The Malmoi Typeface is available for free download on the Korean Language Society’s website.

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It also selected 100 pure Korean words. By analyzing data from the National Institute of the Korean Language’s Standard Korean Dictionary and the “Woori Mal Saem” database, it chose words such as “Yunseul,” “Sutnun,” and “Boluumul.” These include “Yunseul,” which refers to the shimmering ripples on water illuminated by sunlight or moonlight; “Sutnun,” meaning pristine snow that has fallen and accumulated in its natural state; “Putnat,” meaning “to be just acquainted” or “to have just met”; and “Bolumul,” which refers to dimples, literally meaning “a well in the cheek.”

The selected words will be compiled into a booklet and donated to the National Hangeul Museum.

Audio recordings of the Korean language from 100 years ago will also be released. A campaign video featuring a voice recording of Mr. Lee Guk-ro, Secretary-General of the Joseon Language Society, preserved at the National Library of France, will be unveiled on the 7th on SKTelecom’s YouTube channel.

A user-participation event to collect regional dialects and generational neologisms will also be held. Participation is available through SKTelecom’s official social media channels.

Lee Seung-yeol, Head of the Strategy Communications Division at SKTelecom, said, “We planned this campaign to use AI to carry forward the Korean language collected by our ancestors over 100 years ago and make it accessible for everyone to use in their daily lives.”