Today, October 9, South Korea celebrates Hangeul Day (한글날), a national holiday that honors the creation of the Korean alphabet, Hangeul. The alphabet was invented in 1443 and officially proclaimed in 1446 by King Sejong the Great and his scholars of the Hall of Worthies (Jiphyeonjeon).
At the time, literacy was limited because written communication relied on classical Chinese characters, which were difficult for common people to learn. Hangeul, originally called Hunminjeongeum (“the correct sounds for the instruction of the people”), was designed to be simple, scientific, and accessible, enabling all Koreans to read and write.
Hangeul Day was first celebrated in 1926, and after Korea’s liberation in 1945, it was officially designated as a national holiday. In 2006, it was elevated to the status of a legal holiday, marked by ceremonies, academic events, and writing contests across the country.
Hangeul is widely recognized as one of the most logical and scientific writing systems in the world. In fact, the original document Hunminjeongeum Haerye, which explains its principles, is inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.
Hangeul Day is not only a celebration of a writing system, but also a tribute to King Sejong’s vision of equality through literacy, and a reminder of Korea’s cultural pride and identity.
