When did the Hangeul Proclamation Day in South Korea start?
About Hangeul Proclamation Day in South Korea Holiday
Greetings from the beautiful country of South Korea! We proudly welcome you to the celebration of Hangeul Proclamation Day!
Hangeul Proclamation Day marks the anniversary of King Sejong the Great’s proclamation of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, back in 1446. This special day celebrates the life and legacy of the great king, who has forever changed Korean history and culture with the invention of the writing system that has survived for over 600 years and continues to be used by millions today.
During this event, South Koreans from all walks of life will come together to honour the legacy of King Sejong and the signicance of Hangeul in South Korean culture. There will be parades, special performances from traditional Korean performers, cultural festivals, and much more. It is a time to explore the wonders of Korean language and culture, and to recognize the extraordinary achievements of King Sejong the Great.
Come join us and experience this monumental day! As we celebrate the proclamation of Hangeul, may we also be reminded of the enduring strength and unity of our nation.
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Hangeul Proclamation Day in South Korea
Hangeul Proclamation Day, or “National Hangeul Day”, is celebrated every year on October 9th in South Korea. The holiday commemorates the founding of the Korean alphabet, or “Hangeul”, by King Sejong the Great, and is an anniversary that is held dear by many. In addition to celebrating speech, writing and literature made possible by Hangeul, it is also an occasion for appreciating the many remarkable works of art, literature, and culture that have resulted from the language and its uses.
History and Origin
The history of Hangeul dates back to the era of the Joseon Dynasty, between 1392 and 1897, when the alphabet, known as “hunminjeongeum” was created. Under the rule of King Sejong, the alphabet was first proclaimed on October 9th, 1446, as it was believed that “the people’s ability to speak and write” was far more important to their lives than “the number of troops and amount of provisions”. Hangeul was created for the purpose of making the Korean language moreaccessible to the common people and allowing them to express their thoughts and feelings in writing for the first time.
This alphabet has since become the foundation of the Korean language, and has helped to preserve Korean culture and identity by allowing it to be shared in written form. In recognition of King Sejong’s hard work in creating the language, October 9th was declared “Hangeul Proclamation Day” in 1949 by the then-Government of South Korea. This was in hope of encouraging the Korean people to take greater pride in their language and literature, and to serve as a reminder of the progress made in Korean society since its proclamation some 500 years ago.
Significance and Meaning
To the Korean people, Hangeul is a source of national pride. As such, Hangeul Proclamation Day is an important annual event that is celebrated to honor this legacy and is an opportunity to reaffirm the nation’s commitment to preserving its culture and heritage. It is a celebration of the values and achievements of the Korean people as a nation, and is a day for reflecting on the power of language to communicate ideas and feelings.
The day is also an occasion for recognizing and appreciating all those who have used the language in the expression of their thoughts, creativity and feelings and who have contributed to Korean literature and culture. It is a day to celebrate the many works of art, literature, and cultural products that have been created using Hangeul, and to honour the progress that has been made in Korean civilization since its inception.
Traditions and Celebrations
The festivities of Hangeul Proclamation Day include various activities and events throughout the day. The traditional way to mark the holiday is to read and recite passages from classic works of literature written in Hangeul such as Cho Se-hwang’s Hunminjeongeum (the rules for writing Hangeul), King Sejong’s Namo Gyaudang, or Kim So-wol’s Jeomhun (a collection of Korean folk tales).
Cultural events in celebration of Hangeul Proclamation Day are often held throughout the nation, including Lantern Festivals, exhibitions of Korean culture, and traditional music and dance performances. In addition to these, competitions and media events are also organized to honour the alphabet’s legacy, and awards are presented to individuals who have made great contributions to Korean literature and culture. Other activities include writing contests, calligraphy competitions, and traditional games.
Geographical Spread
Hangeul Proclamation Day is a national holiday on October 9th all over South Korea. It is celebrated in all provinces and cities in South Korea, with the largest celebration traditionally being held in the capital, Seoul. The festivities in Seoul include a street parade, special concerts, and exhibitions of Korean culture.
Regional variations of the celebration are also common, including special cultural events, local traditional dances, and regional sports competitions. For example, in the Gyeongsang Province, people traditionally celebrate by writing poems in Hangeul, an annual Literary Festival is held in Gangwon Province, and the holiday is observed in Gyeonggi Province with traditional music concerts and archery competitions.
Modern Day Observations
In modern day observances, people tend to celebrate the customs of Hangeul Proclamation Day in a more personal way. This involves reflecting on the legacy of Hangeul and appreciating the many works of literature, art, and culture that have come from it since its inception. Many people also participate in activities such as calligraphy, translation and linguistics contests; others write articles, poems, and stories in celebration of the holiday.
In recent years, digital media such as blogs and social networking sites have emerged as a popular way of marking the holiday. By posting pictures, videos, articles and other digital content, people are able to engage in conversations and share their thoughts about the holiday across different platforms.
Interesting Facts or Trivia
1. Ultra-modern high-rise buildings mix with cobblestone-paved streets and centuries-old temples in South Korea; perfectly encapsulating the country’s rich and vibrant history and culture.
2. Hangeul, also sometimes known as Hanskgul, is made up of 24 letters, 14 consonants and 10 vowels. It syllabary system was designed for the writing of Korean and was recognized as cultural heritage by UNESCO in 1997.
3. The idea to create “hunminjeongeum”, the Korean alphabet, was conceived by King Sejong himself. Instead of traditional script, King Sejong wanted a writing system that was easier for more people to learn.
4. “Hunminjeongeum” is loosely translated as “the correct sounds for the instruction of the people”.
5. Prior to the introduction of Hangeul, Chinese characters, known as “hanja”, were the dominant script used for writing Korean.
6. Hangeul Proclamation Day was designated a public holiday in 1989.
7. Hangeul scripts have five distinctive features: that is, vertical writing, horizontal writing, shaped letters, special letters and systematically organized letters.
8. Hangeul is often considered to be one of the most scientific and contemporary alphabet in the history of writing systems.
9. Its inception has been celebrated and studied around the world in different research, conferences and exhibitions.
10. Hangeul remains the official written language of South Korea today.
Holiday Wishes
1. Wishing you a bright and joyous Hangeul Proclomation Day!
2. Happy Hangeul Proclamation Day – may it bring you joy, success and inspiration!
3. Cheers to the power of language – Happy Hangeul Proclamation Day!
4. May you enjoy a festive and memorable Hangeul Proclamation Day!
5. Wishing you peace and happiness on Hangeul Proclamation Day!
Holiday Messages
1. On this Hangeul Proclamation Day, let us celebrate the power of our language and the creativity it brings us!
2. On Hangeul Proclamation Day, let us rejoice in our literature, our culture and the achievement of our nation!
3. Celebrate the beauty of life this Hangeul Proclamation Day by expressing our thoughts and feelings in the words of our language!
4. On this special day, let us thank and honour those who have used our language to create art and literature!
5. Remember to take time to stop and appreciate the importance of Hangeul Proclamation Day!
Holiday Quotes
1. “The Korean language is a prodigy born of the genius of King Sejong.” – Kim Hyeon
2. “Language is a longing of the soul. Hangeul, through its creative genius, can cocoon all blues and sorrows.” – Kim Sowol
3. “The Korean language exists in space of history and culture: poetry is its expression.” – Kim Young-moo
4. “Language is life, and Hangeul – alive with sound, alive with word – is a language full of life.” – Choi Kwang-su
5. “The Korean language is the precious legacy of our ancestors and the foundation of our nation.” – Park Geun-hye
Other Popular Holiday Info
Hangeul Proclamation Day is not only an occasion for celebrating the language and its rich cultural legacy, but also a day that is meaningful to Koreans around the world. This is apparent in the event’s commemoration outside of South Korea, as “Hangul Day” is celebrated as a national holiday in North Korea and other countries such as Japan and China have marked it as a remembrance of the language and its importance to Korean culture.
In addition to its established celebration of Hangeul Proclamation Day, South Korea has taken further steps to ensure the survival of the language. This includes the establishment of the “Hangeul Institute”, an institute dedicated to research and education of the Korean alphabet and its application. The institute is responsible for creating educational materials, conducting research projects, and publicising information about the language.
The goal of such efforts is to ensure that Hangeul and Korean culture continue to thrive and be appreciated by future generations. Hangeul Proclamation Day remains highly meaningful to Koreans around the world, with many taking the time to pause and appreciate the power and beauty of this special language.
Hangeul Proclamation Day in South Korea Also Called
Hangeul Day.Countries where "Hangeul Proclamation Day in South Korea" is celebrated:
FUN FACT:
In year 1446, Hangeul Proclamation Day in South Korea is celebrated on October 9 for the first time.HOLIDAY CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, please click here to contact us!