Hangul, the World's Most Scientific and Beautiful Script

Hangul, created in 1443 by King Sejong of Joseon, is one of the most original and scientific writing systems in the world. It symbolizes Korean culture and identity, celebrated as a national holiday on Hangul Day. Hangul has played a significant role in the development of Korean culture, being the script used by the entire nation. Additionally, the beauty and scientific nature of Hangul are recognized worldwide, and its uniqueness and elegance extend beyond just its form. The reason for the creation of Hangul is a piece of the greatness that has kept our identity and national spirit alive, and is a symbol of King Sejong's love for his people and country.
 

 

The Creation and Purpose of Hangul

 
Hangul, the Korean alphabet, was invented in 1443 by King Sejong of Joseon. At that time, the Chinese characters used in Joseon were complex and difficult for ordinary people to learn and use. King Sejong recognized the need for a script that all citizens could easily learn and use, thus creating Hangul to increase the accessibility of writing for the general population. This innovative idea stemmed from King Sejong's desire to ensure equal access to written communication. Originally named 'Hunminjeongeum,' which means "the correct sounds for the instruction of the people."
 

Preface of the Hunminjeongeum
"Because the language of this country is different from that of China and does not communicate through writing, many of our uneducated people who have something to say cannot express their thoughts in writing. Out of sympathy for them, I have created twenty-eight new characters. It is my wish that people may learn these characters easily and that they be convenient for daily use."

 

The Scientific Structure and Ease of Learning of Hangul

 
Hangul is composed of 14 consonants and 10 vowels, combining a total of 24 characters to create a variety of letters. The consonants were created based on the shapes of the speech organs. For example, 'ㄱ' symbolizes the shape of the root of the tongue blocking the throat. The vowels are based on the philosophical concept of heaven, earth, and human (天地人); for instance, 'ㅣ' represents heaven, 'ㅡ' symbolizes earth, and 'ㅗ' and 'ㅏ' symbolize human. Thanks to its scientific structure, Hangul can precisely and clearly express nearly all sounds in the world and can be used to transcribe other languages.
King Sejong created Hangul to make it easy for all citizens to learn and use. In a society that used Chinese characters at the time, this was a revolutionary event that made written language accessible to the general populace. Today, Hangul is still recognized as an easy script to learn, highly regarded by linguists and language educators worldwide.

 

The Peril of Hangul

 
During the Japanese occupation, Japan oppressed Korean culture overall through its policies of cultural genocide. Our ancestors made various efforts to preserve our culture, one of which was Hangul education. Hangul educational facilities operated in secrecy, and some of the notable ones included the following.

• Shinminhakhoi: Founded in 1906 by Choi Hyun-bae, An Chang-ho, and others, this organization significantly contributed to Hangul research and dissemination, playing a crucial role in standardizing grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
• Boseong College: Established in 1905, it conducted various educations, including Hangul, and played a pioneering role in modern education.
• Heungsa Dan: Founded in 1913 by An Chang-ho, this organization focused on national education and independence movements. It conducted national spirit education, including Hangul education, and participated in various activities against the Japanese occupation.
• National Schools: During the occupation, several national schools were established, providing education in Hangul and Korean history and culture, including Baejae School and Yeonghui School.

In addition to these, many independence activists and educators are known to have conducted Hangul education in secret. The efforts of these educational facilities and educators significantly contributed to the preservation of Hangul and the protection of Korean culture and language.
 
Moreover, besides Ju Si-gyeong, other key figures who worked for the preservation and development of Hangul during the Japanese occupation included the following.

• Ju Si-gyeong (1876-1914): Known as the 'Father of Hangul,' he significantly contributed to Hangul research and education. He studied the scientific structure and value of Hangul and participated in the standardization of Hangul, devoting much effort to Hangul education and dissemination.
• Choi Hyun-bae (1894-1979): A Hangul scholar and educator, he was a key figure in Shinminhakhoi. He devoted himself to systematic research and education of Hangul and contributed to the standardization of Hangul spelling.
• Kim Du-bong (1886-1951): A scholar and independence activist, he dedicated himself to Hangul research and dissemination. He is renowned for his research on the history and structure of Hangul and participated in various activities for its dissemination.
• An Chang-ho (1878-1938): An independence activist and social reformer, he greatly contributed to Hangul and national education. He founded Heungsa Dan and conducted vigorous national education, emphasizing the importance of Hangul.
• Bang Jeong-hwan (1899-1931): A children's education and cultural activist, he created educational materials for children in Hangul and raised awareness of its importance through children's cultural movements.
• Gang Nyeong-u: A Hangul scholar and educator known for his contributions to Hangul research and dissemination, especially in systematic education and dissemination of Hangul. He participated in the scientific research and standardization of Hangul and played a significant role in developing textbooks and educational methodologies for Hangul.

In addition to these individuals, the efforts of many other independence activists contributed to the dissemination of Hangul, playing a significant role in preserving language and cultural identity despite Japanese oppression.
 
 

Hangul in Language Preservation

 
Hangul, with its exceptional scientific nature and ease of learning, is used by several ethnic groups worldwide to record their languages.

The Cia-Cia Tribe

The Cia-Cia tribe, a minority group residing on Buton Island in Sulawesi, Indonesia, decided in 2009 to use Hangul to record their language, Cia-Cia. This decision was based on the judgment that Hangul's scientific and systematic structure well suited the Cia-Cia language.


 
This case demonstrates the excellence and international value of Hangul, showcasing its worth as a phonetic script capable of expressing almost all sounds. It not only highlights Hangul's significant role in documenting and preserving various languages and cultures around the world but also illustrates its potential as a global script, transcending its identity as the unique script of Korea.
 
 

Cultural Value of Hangul

 
The cultural value of Hangul is significant in various aspects. It transcends its function as a writing system and forms an important part of our culture and identity, holding a prominent place in world linguistics and philology.

1. Symbol of Cultural Identity: Hangul symbolizes the uniqueness and identity of our culture. Since its creation in 1443 by King Sejong, Hangul has been an essential tool for expressing our nation's life, thoughts, and culture. It represents our national pride and symbolically showcases the independence and creativity of our culture.
2. Linguistic Value: Hangul holds a special place in world linguistics due to its scientific and systematic structure. Each character is based on the shape of the speech organs, making it not only easy to learn but also capable of expressing all sounds, a remarkable feature of the script.
3. Role in Literature and Arts: Hangul has played a crucial role in the development of our literature and arts and continues to do so. A multitude of literary works, poems, novels, and songs written in Hangul demonstrate the richness and diversity of Korean culture. In contemporary art, Hangul is also used as a visual element, highlighting its beauty and creativity.
4. International Value: Hangul transcends the Korean language, being used to record other languages. Its systematic and scientific structure can accurately represent the pronunciation of other languages, earning international attention and respect.
5. Educational Value: Due to the clarity of its structure, Hangul is easy to learn, making it highly efficient for educational purposes. It contributes significantly to language education and illiteracy eradication, recognized for its educational value not only in Korea but also in other countries.

 

A Golbal Cultural Heritage: Hangul

 
Hunminjeongeum, created by King Sejong in 1443, was inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in October 1997. It has been recognized globally as a creative and unique script.
The Hunminjeongeum Haerye, created in September 1446 by the lunar calendar, is a critical document that outlines the background, principles, and usage of Hangul. It is a valuable document for understanding the history and significance of Hangul. Also known as the Hunminjeongeum Haerye or Hunminchoeum Haerye, it serves as proof of King Sejong's great achievement in enabling all citizens to express their thoughts easily and communicate effectively. The Haerye is preserved in the Gansong Art Museum.
In addition, Hunminjeongeum's listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site means that it has been recognized for its historical and cultural importance not only in Korea but also around the world, and it also commemorates the country's brilliant cultural development due to its innovative and practical writings created by scholars of King Sejong and Joseon's Jiphyeonjeon.