Guarding heritage: 'Hunminjeongeum Haerye'
Not long ago, I watched a television program that explored the profound significance of the “Hunminjeongeum Haerye,” a cultural treasure of Korea. The Hunminjeongeum itself, created by King Sejong in 1443 and promulgated in 1446, is the foundation of the Korean alphabet, Hangul. Its name means “the correct sounds for instructing the people,” and it was designed so that ordinary citizens, who…
The "Hunminjeongeum Haerye" holds immense cultural significance for Korea. Created by King Sejong in 1443 and officially released in 1446, it stands as the foundation of the Korean alphabet, Hangul. The name "Hunminjeongeum" translates to "the correct sounds for instructing the people," reflecting its purpose of enabling ordinary citizens, who found Chinese characters too complex, to learn reading and self-expression more easily.
The Haerye, an explanatory text detailing the principles and usage of Hangul, was discovered in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, in 1940 and subsequently acquired by the cultural collector Jeon Hyeong-pil, also known as Gansong. This particular edition, referred to as the Gansong edition, is currently designated as a national treasure and is safeguarded at the Gansong Art Museum in Seoul.
Its uniqueness and historical importance were acknowledged on the international stage when UNESCO included it on its World Documentary Heritage list in 1997. However, the tale does not conclude here.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- Guarding heritage: 'Hunminjeongeum Haerye' koreatimes.co.kr
