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The alphabet that changed a nation

Jamo Explorer

giyeok [g/k] Tongue touching soft palate
nieun [n] Tongue touching upper gum
digeut [d/t] Tongue touching upper teeth
rieul [r/l] Tongue curling upward
mieum [m] Shape of closed lips
ieung [ng] Shape of open throat

History

1443 Hunminjeongeum Created

King Sejong the Great creates Hangul to give literacy to all people

1446 Promulgation

Official publication of the Hunminjeongeum document

1504 Yeonsangun Ban

King Yeonsangun bans the study and use of Hangul

1894 Official Script

Hangul adopted as Korea's official script in the Gabo Reform

1910 Colonial Suppression

Japanese colonial rule suppresses Korean language education

1945 Liberation

Korea liberated; Hangul restored as primary writing system

1997 UNESCO Heritage

Hunminjeongeum manuscript registered as UNESCO Memory of the World

Syllable Builder

Initial

Vowel

Final

"A wise man can acquaint himself with them before the morning is over; a stupid man can learn them in the space of ten days."

— King Sejong, Hunminjeongeum Preface, 1446