King Sejong and the Hunminjeongeum: The Story of a Linguistic Revolution
Explore the royal decree of 1446: "Hunminjeongeum" (The Correct Sounds for the Instruction of the People). Learn King Sejong's vision for universal literacy.
8 min read·
In 1446, King Sejong published a landmark manuscript titled "Hunminjeongeum" (훈민정음), meaning "The Correct Sounds for the Instruction of the People."
The preface contained a moving declaration of human empathy from a monarch to his citizens that remains iconic in Korean history.
King Sejong's Famous Preface
King Sejong wrote in the opening of the 1446 manuscript:
Practise this
Reviewed by Native Korean Educators
E-E-A-T VerifiedAll Hangul letter explanations, pronunciation rules, and sample vocabulary in this article are reviewed by native Korean language educators according to real classroom standards.