Introduction
October 9th marks a special occasion in South Korea - Hangul Day (한글날). This annual celebration honors the creation of the Korean alphabet and its lasting impact on Korean culture and literacy. In this article, we'll explore the significance of Hangul Day, its history, and ways to join in the festivities.
A Brief Introduction to Hangul
Hangul is a unique alphabet for a few different reasons. It has 10 vowels, 14 consonants, and 27 complex letter combinations. When writing words, Korean letters are arranged vertically in syllabic blocks, read from left to right like Western text.
This colorful chart shows Hangul, the Korean alphabet, arranged by consonants and vowels with romanized versions beneath each syllable block, making it easier to learn pronunciation.
Image Credits: Image via LoneWolfInCyberia for r/korea on Reddit
Each letter has a distinct shape. The consonants resemble the shape of a person’s mouth, teeth, and tongue when pronouncing them. The vowels, on the other hand, are made with dots and lines that represent heaven, earth, and humanity.
Image Credits: Tongue&Talk via Medium
You can also combine letters into double/tense consonants (5) or double vowels (11). With double consonants, the pronunciation can be a bit tricky, but they’re easy to spot. Double vowels (below), however, are more challenging to read, especially if you're new to Hangul.
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Despite these challenges, you can learn basic Hangul within a week. There’s even a famous saying: “A wise man can acquaint himself with [Hangul] before the morning is over; even a stupid man can learn them in the space of ten days.”
Image Credits: Korean Cultural Centre UK via Flickr
Due to its detailed design, Hangul is considered the world’s most scientific language. It’s also one of the world’s youngest, only being around since the 15th century. How did it start? Keep reading to find out!
Where Did Hangul Come From?
Koreans used to write in classic Chinese characters (Hanja, 한자). However, the Chinese script didn’t reflect the Korean sounds and was complicated to learn, especially for commoners. Only scholars and noblemen, who had the time and resources, could study it--leaving many illiterate.
Image Credits: Bibliotheque Nationale de France via Wikimedia Commons
Things changed with Sejong the Great, the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty. He reigned from 1418 until his death in 1450, and his greatest achievement was creating the Korean alphabet, initially called the Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음).
Image Credits: Image via Applied Unificationism
Sejong, along with scholars from the Hall of Worthies (Jiphyeonjeon, 집현전), worked on the new alphabet. In 1446, they published the Hunminjeongeum Haerye, a guide to learning the new script. It was distributed to help the lower classes learn to write Korean.
Image Credits: Megabox Joongang Plus M via The Korea Herald
However, not everyone was happy with the new alphabet. The noble classes felt threatened by the peasants’ new ability, and they continued to use Hanja. The tyrannical Prince Yeosang (Yeosangun) banned Hangul’s study and publication in 1504, but it survived and thrived into the 19th century.
Image Credits: Image via Villains Wiki
In 1894, Hangul became Korea’s national writing system. However, it was banned again by Japanese colonizers during the occupation. Secret groups preserved the alphabet by creating dictionaries, hidden until Korea’s liberation in 1945.
Image Credits: Image via REsource – Rockefeller Archive Center
Korean newspapers used both Hanja and Hangul up to the 1960’s. Since the ‘70s, Hangul has become more common and mostly replaced Hanja. However, you can still see the Chinese characters in advertising and media.
Image Credits: Korea JoongAng Daily via Wikimedia Commons
When Did Hangul Day Start?
Koreans started celebrating Hangul Proclamation Day (한글날), or Hangul Day, in 1926, but it had a different name: “Gagya Day” (가갸날) after the Giyeok characters. Its name changed to “Hangul Day” in 1928, the same year that the alphabet’s name was also changed.
Hangul Day used to be celebrated on different days. Then in 1940, an original copy of the “Hunminjeongeum Haerye” was discovered. According to the text, Hangul had been announced around October 9, 1446. Based on this discovery, Hangul Day was moved to October 9 and became a legal holiday in 1945.
Image Credits: Image via Wikimedia Commons
Some Korean businesses wanted their employees to keep working on that day. They convinced the government to remove Hangul Day as a national holiday from 1991-2012. But the Korean Language Society called for the holiday to be restored, and it was celebrated again starting in 2013.
Image Credits: tvN via Noonas Over Forks
How Do Koreans Celebrate Hangul Day?
Now that you know about Hangul Day, here’s how to celebrate! First, you can visit The Story of King Sejong Museum, located right under the King Sejong statue in Gwanghwamun Square.
L-R: Image via The Seoul Guide / Image via Roam-a-holic
You can also check out the National Hangeul Museum near Yongsan Family Park. It’s a great place to visit by yourself or if you have a family, with its children’s museum, café, and Hangeul Library.
L-R: Jocelyndurrey via Wikimedia Commons / Image via Korea Tourism Organization
Next, you can participate in special events hosted by the museums and cultural centers for Hangul Day. They include calligraphy classes and contests; performances; art exhibitions; and even fashion shows.
Image Credits: Yonsei News via Yonsei University
Finally, the simplest way is by learning Hangul. Like we said earlier, it’s easy to learn, and if you’re persistent, you’ll be a Hangul master in no time!
What Is the Best Way to Learn Hangul?
The best way to learn to speak and write in Korean is through face-to-face classes. But what if your school or university doesn’t offer Korean lessons? Luckily, there are many websites and apps that can teach you. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Image Credits: Image via Talk To Me In Korean
Talk To Me In Korean. With 10 different levels, you’ll learn the Korean grammar, vocabulary, and phrases you need. Talk To Me In Korean offers online courses, eBooks, and textbooks. They also have free content available on YouTube.
Image Credits: Image via 90 Day Korean
90 Day Korean. Learn a 3-minute conversation in Korean in 90 days! You can move at your own pace using fun games and exercises. There are also private speaking classes held over Zoom. 90 Day Korean has both free and paid content.
Image Credits: Image via Duolingo
Duolingo. Did you know Korean is the fourth most-learned language on Duolingo? A free platform with a paid option, you’ll be able to learn the basic letters, words, and phrases easily. However, there aren’t any speaking exercises, so you’ll need to find a native speaker to practice instead.
Besides these apps and websites, you can familiarize yourself with the Korean language through k-dramas and K-pop. They won’t explain all the nuances or honorifics, though, so be careful when speaking with a stranger!
FAQs About Hangul Day
Q: Why is Hangul considered a scientific alphabet?
A: Hangul's letters are designed to represent the shape of the mouth and tongue when pronouncing sounds, making it intuitive to learn.
Q: How long does it take to learn basic Hangul?
A: Many learners can grasp the basics within a week of dedicated study.
Q: Is Hangul Day celebrated outside of Korea?
A: While it's primarily a Korean holiday, some Korean cultural centers and language schools worldwide organize events to mark the occasion.
Conclusion
Hangul Day is more than just a celebration of an alphabet - it's a tribute to Korea's rich linguistic heritage and the power of accessible education. Whether you're a language enthusiast or simply curious about Korean culture, Hangul Day offers a unique opportunity to explore and appreciate this remarkable writing system.
Hangul is an amazing alphabet with a unique history. Have any of you Seoulmates learned it? Leave your tips and experiences in the comments below. And from all of us at Seoulbox -- Happy Hangul Day!
1 comment
Personally, I found an app that specializes in Korean that beginners can easily learn, and it is a Korean language learning app called canko.
I am learning Korean every day. The feature is that you can save your pronunciation according to the native speaker’s pronunciation and compare pronunciation. Please refer to https://canko.app site