By Honorary Reporter Paola Corpus from Mexico

Photo = Korea.net, Paola Corpus

The statue of King Sejong at downtown Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square is a city landmark. (Korea.net photo edited by Paola Corpus)

Hangeul is a simple but systematic and phonetic writing system comprising 19 consonants and 21 vowels. The Korean alphabet was invented in 1443 by King Sejong the Great, who felt sorry for his people being uneducated and thus lacking identity. He and a group of scholars promulgated Hangeul in 1446.

The Royal Chronicles of the Joseon Dynasty said in an entry dated Dec. 30, 1443, "During this month, His Majesty devised 28 letters. These letters can write down the sounds of Chinese through simple structure… His Majesty called this new script Hunminjeongeum."

The historical document presented the purpose and principles of Hangeul, as well the pronunciation of its letters, in a way easy to understand for commoners. "These 28 letters have limitless abilities to transcribe sounds; they are simple yet efficient, detailed yet versatile. For this reason, an intelligent person may acquire it in one morning, and even a simple-minded fellow can learn it in ten days," neo-Confucian scholar Jeong In-ji said in Hunminjeongeum Haerye, a commentary on the document, in 1446

The National Hangeul Museum displays the Korean alphabet in a variety of unique and artistic forms. (Paola Corpus)

The National Hangeul Museum in Seoul on Oct. 9 will mark Hangeul Day by openings its doors to the public. Though its mission is to showcase the culture and value of Hangeul, the museum is also active in the dissemination and conservation of the alphabet. Exhibition and interactive rooms within the building display objects dating back to Hangeul's creation through today as well as informative videos.

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.