Long before digital typography defined everyday communication across smartphones and computer screens in East Asia, Korea relied heavily on imported Japanese typesetting. That changed when Seok Geum-ho founded Sandoll, pioneering an industry that produced more than 1,000 distinct Korean fonts over four decades and permanently altered the visual identity of the modern written language. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Tuesday that the late font designer will posthumously receive the Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit, Korea’s top cultural honor, on Friday during the upcoming 580th Hangul Day national ceremony at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. The annual awards recognize eight individuals and two organizations for significant contributions to the development, research, and international growth of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet created in 1443 by King Sejong the Great to promote popular literacy. Joining Seok among top honorees is Baek Tae-hyeon, vice president of Korean Institute in Central Asia, who will receive the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit. Baek s