Unique and Special Hangul and Hangul Day (한글과 한글날)
Hangul Day (한글날) commemorates the proclamation of Hunminjeongeum by King Sejong, and is designated to encourage the study and dissemination of Hangul.
This day serves as an important opportunity to promote the beauty and scientific aspects of the Korean language to the world, and is commemorated annually on October 9th.
Hangul is a globally unique script designed on scientific principles. King Sejong, the creator of Hangul, intended to create a script that could be easily learned and used by the common people.
As a result, Hangul is composed in a way that the shapes represent sounds, making it very easy to learn, which is also of great linguistic significance. Moreover, each letter symbolizes the shape of the mouth, thereby closely relating to the sound it represents.
Thanks to these characteristics, Hangul has become a linguistic and cultural asset that attracts international attention.
About Hangul...
Principles of Hangeul
• Consonants
• Vowels
• Key features of Hangul
The Unique Origin of Hangul
(한글의 유니크한 기원)
Among the world's scripts, few have as clear a creator and creation period as Hangul.
Hangul was created by King Sejong of Joseon in 1443, and officially came into use the following year, in 1444.
This indicates that Hangul has a significance beyond being just a script.
King Sejong aimed to create a script that could be easily read and written by all citizens, leading to the creation of Hangul based on revolutionary scientific principles and an understanding of human language.
The creation background of Hangul is closely related to democratic values, inspiring those who learn and use it even today.
The clear origin of Hangul is an important historical fact for those studying the Korean language and culture, remaining the only case among world scripts with its creation process and purpose clearly documented.
The Creation Background of Hangul
(한글의 창제 배경)
In the mid-15th century, King Sejong created Hangul to allow the people to easily express their thoughts and emotions.
At that time, the use of Chinese characters, which were difficult to learn and had low accessibility, necessitated the need for a new script system that everyone could read and write.
Based on scientific principles, King Sejong and his scholars developed Hangul, which symbolized sounds, making it the only script in the world with a clear creator and creation period.
The Scientific Features of Hangul
(한글의 과학적 특징)
Hangul's morphological and phonological structures are scientifically designed.
Each letter is created to reflect the position and method of pronunciation, making it easy to learn and effective for acquisition.
Moreover, Hangul allows for the combination of letters according to sound, providing the flexibility to express the sounds of various languages.
The Significance and Meaning of Hangul Day
(한글날의 의의와 의미)
Hangul Day commemorates the creation and dissemination of Hangul, reaffirming the scientific and artistic value of Hangul
Hangul Day is commemorated annually on October 9th, celebrating the creation and spread of Hangul and widely promoting the beauty and scientific value of the Korean language.
This day emphasizes the importance of Hangul as a scientific script system that anyone can learn and has a wide range of expression, being the only script in the world with a clear creator and creation period.
Hangul Day recognizes the unique characteristics and global value of Hangul, honoring King Sejong's wisdom and efforts in contributing to the communication and education of the people through the creation of Hangul.
Furthermore, this day instills pride in Koreans and provides foreigners with an opportunity to enhance their understanding of the Korean language and culture.
Hangul Day plays a crucial role in promoting the preservation and development of Hangul through various events and activities, encouraging Koreans to love and develop Hangul further and to share its future value with the world.
Learning Resources for Foreigners on Hang ul
(외국인을 위한 한글 학습 자원)
Many institutions and online platforms around the world provide various resources for learning the Korean language and Hangul.
Through these, foreigners can start from the basics of Hangul and learn various aspects of the Korean language, deepening their understanding of Korean culture and history.
Hangul Day is not just a day to commemorate a letter, but a day to convey the power of communication and the scientific and artistic value of language to the world.
We hope that Hangul Day will inspire all those interested in learning Korean through the respect for Hangul's heritage.
Places and Methods for Foreigners to Access and Learn Hangul
(외국인이 한글을 접하고 배울 수 있는 장소와 방법)
There are various methods and places for foreigners to learn Hangul.
Many universities and language schools around the world offer Korean language classes, providing opportunities to start from the basics of Hangul and learn various aspects of the Korean language. Online learning platforms and apps are also popular. Apps like Duolingo, Talk To Me In Korean, and HelloTalk provide free resources and opportunities for practicing the Korean language.
For foreigners visiting Korea, there are various language institutes and university programs offering Korean language courses within Korea.
These programs often combine cultural experience activities, enriching the language learning experience. Moreover, video platforms like YouTube offer many free Korean language learning contents, allowing learning anywhere and anytime.
Cultural exchange programs that allow learning while experiencing Korean culture are also greatly beneficial for learning Hangul.
Additionally, there are various places and methods to learn Hangul around the world, especially through Korean embassies, Korean cultural centers, and Hangul education institutions within Korea.
Korean embassies and cultural centers located in many regions of the world also strive to promote Korean language education and culture. These institutions serve to enhance international understanding and exchange of Korean language and culture, offering various language and cultural education programs.
Korean embassies and cultural centers host Korean language courses, cultural events, Korean movie screenings, exhibitions, etc., in different countries, introducing the Korean language and culture to locals, and contributing to spreading a positive perception of Korea. These activities play an important role in promoting cultural exchange between Korea and other countries, enhancing mutual understanding.
Additionally, various Hangul education institutions within Korea offer Korean language programs for both Koreans and foreigners. Universities in Korea, such as Seoul National University, Yonsei University, Korea University, and Ewha Womans University, offer intensive Korean courses for foreigners, providing programs that not only improve language skills but also deepen understanding of Korean culture.
Through these diverse institutions and programs, many people worldwide have opportunities to learn Hangul and experience Korean culture, significantly contributing to broadening the scope of cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Korea and the world.
This information can be further explored through the official websites or social media pages of each institution. For those interested in participating in programs offered by Korean embassies, Korean cultural centers, or Hangul education institutions in their region, the latest information and participation methods can be checked through the official channels of these institutions.
Learning Korean at King Sejong Institute
Sejong Institute is an educational institution where students can learn Korean language and culture from all over the world, and offers various programs and classes.
Since the way foreigners learn Korean at Sejong Institute may vary from region to region, it is recommended to check the website or phone number of Sejong Institute in the region.
At Sejong Institute, you can learn Korean in the following ways.
◾Online learning
You can take Korean language courses by level on the online King Sejong Institute site (https://www.iksi.or.kr/ko/main).
◾Offline learning
You can take classes directly at the local Sejong Institute by country.
For more information such as checking the location of King Sejong Institute and registering for classes, please refer to the Sejong Institute Foundation website (https://www.sejonghakdang.org/index.do) .
