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Hangul

Hangul is the writing system used for the Korean language.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 10, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Hangul is the writing system used for the Korean language. It was developed in the 15th century under King Sejong the Great and is the official script of both South Korea and North Korea. Hangul is relevant to Canadian readers through Korean Canadian communities, Korean language education, and the use of Korean in diaspora communities across Canada.

History

Hangul was developed in the 1440s under King Sejong the Great, with its principles explained in the document Hunminjeongeum. It was published in 1446 and created to make reading and writing easier for the wider population.

Structure

Hangul is an alphabetic writing system that uses consonants and vowels to form syllable blocks. Modern standard descriptions usually count 24 basic letters, though historical forms and derived characters expand the system.

Use and status

Hangul is the official script of both South Korea and North Korea and is widely used by Korean speakers around the world. It is central to Korean literacy, education, and national identity.

Cultural significance

Hangul is often regarded as unusually well-documented in its origin and design. Its creation is associated with efforts to broaden literacy and reduce reliance on Chinese characters in Korean writing.

Key facts

  • Hangul is the native script of Korean and is designed to represent spoken sounds.
  • It was developed under King Sejong the Great during the Joseon dynasty.
  • The script was mostly completed around late 1443 to early 1444 and officially published in 1446.
  • Modern Hangul is commonly described as having 24 basic letters: 14 consonants and 10 vowels.
  • The script is used in both South and North Korea.
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Canadian context

Hangul is relevant to Canadian readers through Korean Canadian communities, Korean language education, and the use of Korean in diaspora communities across Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is Hangul?
Hangul is the Korean writing system used to write the Korean language.
Who created Hangul?
It is traditionally credited to King Sejong the Great, working with scholars at the Hall of Worthies.
When was Hangul created?
It was mostly completed around late 1443 to early 1444 and officially published in 1446.
How many basic letters does Hangul have?
Modern Hangul is commonly described as having 24 basic letters: 14 consonants and 10 vowels.
Is Hangul the official script in both Koreas?
Yes. It is the official script of both South Korea and North Korea.
Why was Hangul created?
It was designed to improve literacy and give Koreans a writing system that was easier to learn and use.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_Hangul
    Supports: Overview of Hangul's origin, completion in 1443–1444, and publication in 1446.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hangul-Korean-alphabet
    Supports: Definition of Hangul, letter counts, official status in South and North Korea, and association with King Sejong.
  3. Hangul Club — https://www.hangulclub.com/introduce-hangul/history
    Supports: Historical details on Sejong, original letter system, modern letter counts, and UNESCO Memory of the World mention.
  4. Korean Cultural Center — https://www.koreanculture.org/gallery-korea/2024/04/07/hangeul
    Supports: Creation under King Sejong, Hunminjeongeum, and design principles based on vocal organs and philosophical concepts.
  5. Duolingo Blog — https://blog.duolingo.com/history-of-korean-language/
    Supports: Background on Hangeul's role in Korean writing and its increasing dominance in modern Korean.