Hangul: How the Korean Alphabet Was Made and How It Works

Hangul, the Korean alphabet, is one of the few writing systems whose creator and design principles are documented. Here's how King Sejong created it, the logic behind its letters, how syllable blocks work, and why Korea celebrates Hangul Day every October 9.

King Sejong and Hunminjeongeum

Hangul was created by King Sejong of the Joseon dynasty so that ordinary people could learn to read and write easily. It was completed in 1443 and proclaimed in 1446 under the name Hunminjeongeum, meaning “the correct sounds for the instruction of the people.”

The accompanying commentary, the Hunminjeongeum Haerye, explains the script's purpose and design, which is why it's so highly valued as a historical record.

How the Letters Were Designed

The basic consonants ㄱ, ㄴ, ㅁ, ㅅ and ㅇ were modeled on the shape of the speech organs when making each sound, and strokes were added to form related letters like ㅋ, ㄷ and ㅌ. The vowels were built by combining three symbols representing heaven (·), earth (ㅡ) and humans (ㅣ).

The original alphabet had 28 letters, four of which fell out of use. Today South Korea counts 24 basic letters: 14 consonants and 10 vowels.

Syllable Blocks

Instead of writing letters in a line like the Latin alphabet, Hangul groups an initial consonant, a vowel and an optional final consonant into one block per syllable. For example, ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ makes 한 (han), and ㄱ + ㅡ + ㄹ makes 글 (geul). Because there are few basic letters and the rules are regular, many learners pick up reading Hangul fairly quickly.

Hangul Day, October 9

Hangul Day celebrates the proclamation of Hunminjeongeum. It began in 1926, when the Korean Language Research Society (today's Korean Language Society) first marked the occasion, and the date was later fixed as October 9 based on records in the Haerye.

In South Korea it was dropped as a day off starting in 1991, became a national day in 2005, and has been a public holiday again since 2013. North Korea marks its own Chosŏn'gŭl Day on January 15.

UNESCO Memory of the World

The Hunminjeongeum Haerye manuscript was designated a National Treasure of South Korea in 1962 and inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 1997. For questions about Korean spelling and standard usage, the National Institute of Korean Language is the official reference.

FAQ

Was Hangul created in 1443 or 1446?

It was created in 1443 and proclaimed in 1446 as Hunminjeongeum. Hangul Day marks the proclamation.

How many letters does Hangul have?

The original set had 28; South Korea today uses 24 basic letters, 14 consonants and 10 vowels.

Is Hangul Day a holiday in Korea?

Yes. It's been a public holiday in South Korea again since 2013, after being removed as a day off in 1991.

Why is the Hunminjeongeum Haerye on UNESCO's list?

It documents the creation and design principles of the script and was inscribed on the Memory of the World Register in 1997.

Sources

Last reviewed: 2026-10-28