The History of Hangul: How the Korean Alphabet Was Created

 

Hangul (한글) is the unique and scientifically designed writing system of Korea, known for its efficiency, simplicity, and linguistic innovation. Unlike many alphabets that evolved over centuries, Hangul was intentionally created in the 15th century by King Sejong the Great and his scholars to increase literacy among commoners. This article explores the fascinating history behind the creation of Hangul, its structure, and its impact on Korean society.

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1. Why Was Hangul Created? 

Before Hangul, Koreans primarily used Classical Chinese characters (Hanja, 한자) for writing. However, Hanja was difficult to learn and primarily used by the aristocracy, leaving the majority of commoners illiterate.

To solve this problem, King Sejong (r. 1418–1450) sought to create an accessible, easy-to-learn writing system so that all Koreans, regardless of their social class, could read and write. In 1443, he and a group of scholars from the Hall of Worthies (집현전, Jiphyeonjeon) began developing Hangul, which was officially introduced in 1446.

👉 Key Motivation: Increase literacy and empower the common people.

2. The Invention of Hangul 

The 1446 Publication of “Hunminjeongeum” (훈민정음)

On October 9, 1446, King Sejong proclaimed the completion of the new alphabet in a document called “Hunminjeongeum” (훈민정음), meaning “The Correct Sounds for the Instruction of the People.” This document explained the purpose of Hangul and how it was designed.

The name “Hangul” (한글) was later coined in the early 20th century by Korean linguist Ju Si-gyeong (주시경).

👉 Original Name: Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음) 👉 Modern Name: Hangul (한글), meaning “Great Writing”

3. The Scientific Design of Hangul 

Hangul is one of the few writing systems in the world that was consciously designed, making it highly logical and efficient.

1) Simple & Phonetic Structure

Unlike Chinese characters, which require memorization, Hangul is phonetic, meaning that each letter represents a specific sound.

👉 Total Letters: 14 consonants + 10 vowels = 24 basic letters (originally 28)

2) Consonants Mimic the Shape of the Mouth

King Sejong designed consonants to visually represent the shape of the tongue, lips, and throat when pronouncing them.

• ㄱ (g) → Tongue pressing against the roof of the mouth
• ㄴ (n) → Tongue touching the upper teeth
• ㅁ (m) → Shape of the lips
• ㅅ (s) → Shape of the teeth
• ㅇ (ng) → Open throat

3) Vowels Represent the Universe 

Vowel shapes were inspired by three fundamental symbols in Eastern philosophy:

• Dot (•) → Represents Heaven (now changed to short line)
• Horizontal line (ㅡ) → Represents Earth 
• Vertical line (ㅣ) → Represents Humans 

By combining these symbols, a wide range of vowel sounds is created.

4. Resistance and Revival of Hangul 

Even though Hangul was easier to learn than Hanja, it faced resistance from the ruling elite, who saw it as a threat to their power. For centuries, Hanja remained dominant in official documents, and Hangul was mainly used in personal letters and by women and lower-class citizens.

Suppression During the Joseon Dynasty & Japanese Colonial Rule

• Joseon Dynasty (17th-19th century): Scholars continued to prefer Hanja for government use, limiting the spread of Hangul.
• Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-1945): The Japanese government banned Hangul education in an attempt to erase Korean identity.

The 20th Century Revival

• Independence in 1945: Hangul became Korea’s official script.
• 1950s: South Korea abolished Hanja in most official documents.
• 21st Century: South Korea exclusively uses Hangul, while North Korea completely banned Hanja in 1949.

👉 October 9 (South Korea) and January 15 (North Korea) are celebrated as Hangul Day (한글날), honoring its creation.

5. Why Is Hangul Considered One of the Best Writing Systems? 

Today, Hangul is praised by linguists for being one of the most scientific, efficient, and easiest writing systems to learn.

Key Advantages:

✅ Easy to Learn – Most people can master Hangul in just a few hours!
✅ Logical & Phonetic – The design of letters helps with pronunciation.
✅ Highly Adaptable – Easily used for modern technology, including AI & digital keyboards.

Hangul is often cited as one of the greatest linguistic achievements in history due to its simplicity and accessibility.

6. Conclusion: A Writing System for the People 

Hangul was created with the noble goal of increasing literacy among commoners, and today it remains a symbol of Korean identity, independence, and innovation.

Whether you are learning Korean or just curious about world languages, Hangul is a testament to the power of a well-designed writing system. So why not try learning it yourself?

👉 Did you know Hangul was scientifically designed? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 😊

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Fun Fact: In 2009, Hangul was adopted as the writing system for the Cia-Cia language in Indonesia, proving its effectiveness beyond Korea!