Important People Around the World

                                                  Great King Sejong

Rachel Kim

Seoul-Aug 19

Almost 1000 years ago, Korean people wrote and used words known as Hanja. King Taejong, who was king at that time, had three sons. His third son Chungnyeong , or King Sejong invented Hangul. He was born on May 7, 1397. He loved to read when he was sad and tired, but his brothers didn’t and played. So, king Taejong chose Chungyeong for the great prince.

 

When great prince Chungnyeong became king Sejong at age 22, he went out the castle to watch people. King Sejong hated punishing and killing. People usually got punished because they didn’t know how to read or couldn’t understand Hanja. When King Sejong saw that, he thought that he should make easier words. Easier words that every one could know.

 

So, after he thought that he should make new words, he went to work. He made words as they sounded. That became the Korean alphabet, Hangul. Also, he made words called Hunminjeongum. His eyes were bad, and he had a sickness called diabetes that we should drink almost one bucket of water, but he finished making Hangul. When hangul was invented, first, servants said that people won’t learn, but King Sejong finally won and spread it to people. After people learned Hangul, they knew what to write, and what the story was. On May 18, 1450 King Sejong died. Everyone became sad. Even though he is dead, we won’t forget him.

Almost 1000 years later, today in 2010, In Gwannghwamun, there is King Sejong’s statue. I hope when you visit Gwannghwamun, that you will visit King Sejong. Also, he is on the 10,000 bill, so I hope you will remember him.