Date: 16 Nov 2009 Comments: 0

Korean Alphabet and Its History

Hangul (Hangeul S.Korea/ Joseongeul N. Korea) is the official script and national alphabet of both North and South Korea. It is considered to be an efficient alphabet that has received praises from language experts for its design and effectiveness. Hangul is written in phonemic alphabet system consisting of organized and syllabic blocks composed of 24 letters (14 consonants and 10 vowels). These syllabic blocks contains at least two Hangul letters (jamo) which can be written either horizontally (left to right) and vertically (top to bottom, columns left to right).

History of Hangul

The Korean alphabet, Hangul was created by the 15^th century wherein most Koreans were illiterate and had a difficult writing system. It was King Sejong the Great, the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty founded the importance of keeping record and making communication through a writing using the sounds of the Korean language. By 1444, Hunmin Jeongeum which means the “correct sounds for teaching the people” was invented and it was officially declared as the new writing system in 1446.

To promote the use of this new writing system, teachers were departed to the countryside to teach the common people in using it thus increasing the literacy rate of Koreans in both reading and writing.  This new writing system faced opposition from intellectuals and the aristocrats and was labeled with many names such as Amgeul a script referring to female inferiority, Ahaegeul a childish script, and Eonmun an improper or vernacular script. After Sejong’s reign the new writing system was abolished King Jungjong.

A modified version of Hunmin Jeongeum was created and became popular by the 19^th Century and this writing system was later renamed as Hangul or the “great Korean script”. The modified writing system became the national pride that represents the independence of Korea from the rest of the world although four letters were no longer used at this time.

By 1910, Korea was annexed by Japan and Hangul was banned since the Japanese culture was imposed to be adopted instead of Korean culture. Despite that, Hangul continued to be unofficially taught. In 1949, North Korea re-established the use of Hangeul as its official writing system while South Korea also used Hangeul alongside Hanja (a foreign writing system adapted by Korea during the period of Japan annex).

Koreans take pride on their national writing system thus there is a declining use of Hanja. Hangeul symbolizes national independence of Korea over invasion of foreign cultures in their land. To show pride of Hangeul, North Korea and South Korea have a national holiday every 15^th January and 9^th October

More…

Here is a rap-style music video introduction to the letters of the Korean alphabet (if you are on a mobile device you can click the YouTube video link):

And you can learn more in our earlier “Learn The Korean Alphabet” post with more videos to help learn the alphabet.