Korean people, during a long
and successful history of five thousand years,
have created independent and unique national cultures
with their innate creativity, outstanding capacity,
and great tenacity covered with blood and sweat,
and have developed them without cessation. Of
them, the invention of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet,
could be said to be the first and foremost achievement
in the history of Korean culture. In fact, many
linguists around the world have appreciated Hangeul
with its originality and scientific nature, as
an excellent writing system. Moreover, it has
been great source of national pride that the Korean
people are the only ones in the world,who celebrate
the day when their national alphabet was invented.
This year we, the Korean people, have just celebrated
the five hundred and fiftieth birthday of Hangeul.
That is, five hundred and fifty years have passed
since King Sejong invented and widely spread Hangeul.
The purposes for which King Sejong invented Hangeul
were clearly expressed in the preface by the King
himself in Hunmin-Jeongeum(A Book on Explanations
and Illustrations of the Korean Alphabet). They
can be summarized in the following three points.
Firstly, it was with the thought of national identity
that the new writing system suitable for the structure
of Korean syntax and phonology was made. Secondly,
it was with the thought of democratism and pragmatism
that every one of his subjects should be given
the benefit of using the new writing system. Yet,
another reason was for the smooth interchange
with neighboring nations by facilitating the learning
of foreign languages, including Chinese, with
the invention of Hangeul. In this context we have
come to know that the creator of Hangeul at that
time, directed deep attention towards the Segyehwa
(globalization) of national cultures.
Now, people all over the world admire the spirit
of invention behind Hangeul. Since 1990, the UNESCO,
an agency of the United Nations, has been awarding
‘King Sejong Prize’ named after King Sejong, to
an organization or institution in every country
which contributes to the crusade against illiteracy
every year. The fact that the ratio of illiteracy
in Korea is extremely low compared to other countries
in the world can be attributed to the invention
of Hangeul by King Sejong, who made all his subjects
learn and use it easily.
On occasion of the five hundred and fiftieth birthday
of Hangeul, we have collected several articles
into a booklet entitled ‘Hangeul in the 21st century’
for the purpose of looking back upon the true
meaning of the invention of Hangeul. I would like
to express my deep thanks to the authors who sent
these valuable papers, and to Professor Kim Jeong-Woo
and Professor Robert Leitch who translated their
papers into English.
I sincerely hope that small booklet will be helpful
to domestic and foreign scholars who study the
Korean language,and will contribute even partially
to the globalization of our spoken and written
language.
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