Lee hails Korean writing system as 'face' of country on 100th Hangeul Day

President Lee Jae Myung celebrated the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day on Friday, praising the Korean writing system as the "face" of the nation. In a Facebook post using South Korea's official name, he emphasized that "the strength of our language and writing is the competitiveness of the Republic of Korea."

Hangeul, the Korean writing system, was created by King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty in 1443 and implemented three years later to supplement the existing script derived from Chinese characters. The Korean Language Society established Hangeul Day in 1926, during a time when Koreans were striving to safeguard their language and writing system under the Japanese colonial rule that lasted from 1910 to 1945.

Lee acknowledged that during those 100 years, his predecessors dedicated themselves to preserving their language and writing system, despite losing their country. He highlighted their determination, stating that even though they had lost their nation, they could not relinquish their spirit and identity. Today, the writing system is learned by individuals worldwide, thanks to the King Sejong Institute, which teaches the Korean language.