Happy Hangeul Day

A heart of Hangeul is shown at the Korean Cultural Center in Egypt.

By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Bardise Muhammad

Photos = Bardise Muhammad

Hangeul Day is the day when Koreans celebrate the invention of the Korean alphabet, Hangeul. It's celebrated annually on Oct. 9 in Korea, as well as all over the world at Korean Cultural Centers around the globe.

I want to celebrate this day in a special way, so I'm about to share with you my story of Hangeul.

First, however, I would like to introduce you to the Hangeul writing system.

The Korean letters  ㅅ, ㅎ, ㅁ, ㄹ and ㄴ stand in front of the Korean Cultural Center in Egypt. 

Hangeul is the Korean word for the alphabet used to write the Korean language. Its invention and creation in 1443 was during the reign of King Sejong the Great (세종대왕) (1397-1450).

Do you know who King Sejong is?

He's the fourth Joseon monarch. He was born on May 15, 1397. His father was King Taejong (태종). Sejong is known for overseeing the creation of Hangeul, even though creating the alphabet wasn't his only achievement. 

Some of his achievements are listed below. 

Science & Technology

The Nongsa Jikseol (농사직설)

He wanted to help farmers, so he published  handbooks like the Nongsa Jikseol (농사직설) that contained a lot of information about different farming techniques. The name Nongsa Jikseol means “Straight Talk on Farming.”

Reconstructing the Korean Calendar

Back then, people used a calendar that was based on the longitude of the Chinese capital. King Sejong wanted the people to use a calendar that was based on the Korean capital, today's Seoul. So he had his astronomers create a new calendar. That lead to the accurate prediction of lunar and solar eclipses. 

Of course, one of his greatest achievements is what we're talking about today, the Hangeul alphabet.

King Sejong oversaw the creation of the Hangeul alphabet in order to ease the process of reading, writing and learning in general for all the people. As a result, Korea today has a very high literacy rate.

The Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음) was published to introduce the newly invented letters to the people. The name Hunminjeongeum means “The proper sounds for instructing the people.” It's also worth noting that the Hunminjeongeum is Korea’s National Treasure No. 70 and was registered as part of UNESCO’s Memory of the World in October 1997. 

What makes Hangeul so special?

Hangeul has 24 letters, which makes it very easy to memorize. As the famous quote goes, “A wise person can acquaint himself with them before the morning is over. A stupid man can learn them in the space of 10 days.”

Of course, no one is stupid. We only learn things by using different methods, and our learning journeys can be long or shorter depending on many circumstances. Even if you have a hard time learning new things in general, you don’t need to worry. Learning Hangeul will only take two weeks at the most. All in all, learning Hangeul is very easy. You can learn it in a few days, which means you'll be able to read in a totally new and different language in no time at all. It may sound too good to be true, but it's true.

The easiness of the Korean alphabet is one of the reasons why non-Koreans aren't afraid of learning Korean. The Korean language doesn’t looks scary. To me, it looks really easy, friendly and I'm never worried that I might forget a letter or a symbol when writing or reading in Korean, which makes me feel more relaxed when studying Korean.

Let’s take a look at Hangeul.

- 14 consonants: ㄱ g, ㄴ n, ㄷ d, ㄹ l/r, ㅁ m, ㅂ b, ㅅ s, ㅇ(null), ㅈ j, ㅊ ch, ㅋ k, ㅌ t, ㅍ p, ㅎ h

- 6 vowels: ㅏ a, ㅓ eo, ㅗ o, ㅜ u, ㅡ eu, ㅣ i

- 4 iotized vowels:ㅑ ya, ㅕ yeo, ㅛ yo, ㅠ yu

Also, it's said that many of the Hangeul letters were designed to emulate the shape of the speaker’s tongue or mouth when pronouncing the letter.

Did you know that Hangeul Day used to be called Gagya Day (가갸 날)? 

This is because the Hangeul alphabet starts with the letter giyeok (ㄱ). That’s why it used to be called Gagya Day (가갸날).

My name is written in Hangeul at the Sejong Institute in Cairo.

Don't hesitate to learn Korean! Once you start, you'll be exposed to a whole new world, mindset and set of traditions.

If you don’t know where or how to start, you can become a student at a Sejong Institute where you can learn about Korean traditions and, of course, the language itself.

Sejong Institutes were established by the Korean government all over the world in order to help people who can’t go to Korea to study, helping them to learn Korean in their home country.

Now it’s time to share my story of Hangeul with you.

Arabic and non-Arabic names are written in Hangeul on handmade keychains.

As you know, with the rapidly increasing number of Egyptian youth who are interested in Korea, owning something that represents Korean or which reminds them of Korea is definitely on their check list.

What is one of the most unique things about Korea? It’s Hangeul, of course! That's what encouraged me to start making Hangeul keychains for these people.

It all started a few months ago when I wanted to give one of my favorite teachers a farewell gift when she was leaving to continue her studies in Korea.

I made her a small pillow with her name in Korean embroidered on it.

I was then encouraged by many people to make different names and shapes, and to make similar gifts.

I started making keychains and I attached different names to them.

I made handmade keychains with names written in Hangeul on them.

Many of my friends wanted to see their names written in Hangeul, while others wanted their siblings or friends to have their own Hangeul names attached to a keychain.

Hangeul writing looks quite attractive! Even if the person doesn't study Korean or can’t read or write Korean, they often find the embroidered Hangeul imagery to be quite eye-catching.

Hangeul looks geometric, so it makes it easy to learn and also easy to be embroidered! I'm glad I got to make and give people something inspired by Hangeul that will last them for a long time.

I will continue to produce new designs and ideas that’re inspired by Hangeul. It makes me happy and it makes Hangeul-lovers happy, as well.

If the Korean alphabet inspires you, make sure to take part in the annual Hangeul Idea Award contest held by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and share your Hangeul-inspired ideas with the world!

http://www.hangeulaward.co.kr/

If you like art in general, make sure to use Hangeul to add a special touch to your creations.

Celebrate the Korean language in your own special way, either by learning Hangeul and Korean yourself, or by making a simple piece of art using Hangeul.

Also, if you're interested in calligraphy, make sure to check out some of the wonderful Korean calligraphy artists who have started to use Hangeul letters, along with Hanja characters. You'll be surprised at how simple yet artistic their calligraphy art can be.

wisdom117@korea.kr

The Korean Experience

By Korea.Net Honorary Reporter Nour M. Aldemrdash 

Photos = Nour M. Aldemrdash

When we mention the word ”Egypt,” the first thing that crosses one’s mind is the pyramids, but the reality is that Egypt is full of many other monuments and charming places. Similarly, when I say the word “Korea” in front of an Egyptian, they think directly of Samsung and LG, and maybe K-pop, but they don’t know about the history or heritage items. Maybe they don’t even know that Korea has history and civilization just like Egypt.

I’m writing this article to shine a spotlight on the hidden treasures of Korea. The heritage and history of this country are just like the roots of an old tree. However, just as the wind blows, it will last and stand until the end of time. It’s so important to read and learn more about this country. Maybe someday we will meet a Korean person and it wouldn't be good enough to just say, “Sorry, but I know nothing about your country”. The way in which a society views itself and thinks about its identity is very important, as without it, we wouldn't be able to communicate. Once we learn it, we will be excited to travel to Korea.

The Korean culture, which is known as “Han,” contains a variety of interesting traditions. It all starts with “Han“ and each detail of it has an amazing story. Start with “Hanbok,” traditional Korean attire and my favorite personal experience. I used to see Hanbok on TV, simply like skirts and colorful tops, but when I came to wear it, I was totally amazed. It’s not as simple as I thought. The way to wear it, the design and even the industry itself is so valuable. Hanbok was just the start. When I wore it, I decided to buy one, but since we don’t have it in Egypt, I had to buy one from Korea. Finally, the Korean Cultural Center in Egypt announced that there would be a Hanbok design workshop, but sewing experience was needed, so I couldn’t join, but my mother did. The look of the Hanbok is totally different compared to the way to make one. Now, I have my own Hanbok, but this time only I know how valuable it is.

Hangeul is the Korean alphabet. Ancient Koreans used to speak Korean but write using Chinese characters. Because that was so difficult, only the upper classes could write. The Koreans had a problem with writing their language and became illiterate. So King Sejong the Great (r. 1418-1450) oversaw the creation of Hangeul in 1443 to help the Korean masses read and write their own language. The team of scholars who created the letters did so, the story goes, according to the shape of the mouth and tongue, to make it easy for everybody to learn it. Everyone in Korea can now read and write Hangeul. Sejong didn't only make history. He even changed the future of Korea. On Oct. 9 every year, people celebrate the Korean alphabet day, or Hangeul Day, as it’s an official holiday. The Korean Cultural Center in Egypt arranges events to celebrate Hangeul Day every year, so they introduce Hangeul to the guests and tell them the story of King Sejong the Great, play some games and give away some awesome traditional Korean gifts to the winners. 

Traditional Korean music is known as Hanguk eumak, which is songs and music. Starting with the song “Arirang,” it was the first traditional Korean song I heard. I thought it was just a sad song, but when I looked up the lyrics I came to know that it’s more than a story of a woman singing to her husband who decided to abandon her. It’s a story that refers to Korean history, as it shows Korean efforts to get independence from colonial rule. I also came to know that the song "Arirang" has many versions and has been translated into many languages, including English, French, German, Mandarin and simplified Chinese, Japanese and Arabic. 

Traditional dance and music in Korea are known as Hanguk ak. There are different types, as each one has a special and unique style. The first time I learned about traditional Korean dance and music was at the Han-Arab Society Festival, the ninth Korea-Arab Friendship Caravan, when I attended an amazing performance. 

I never thought that I would attend a live performance of a traditional Korean show, but it was a great experience that I will never forget. Still, the depth and breadth of traditional Korea is full of branches, like Hansik and traditional food, Hanyak and traditional medicine, and Hanguk akki, a type of traditional Korean musical instruments.

There's one big difference between what I used to hear about Korea and now. I haven't even visited Korea yet, but it’s not limited to learning about countries only when we visit them. Writing about Korea can motivate readers to learn more about it, and the more they learn, the more they will be looking forward to visiting Korea and having their own experiences there. We get great experiences when we learn. As long as I’m alive, I won’t stop learning.

wisdom117@korea.kr

Korean language survived history

By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Yomna Magdy 

Photos = Wikipedia

Korea.net Honorary reporter Baradise El Deeb has written about the story of Hangeul, showing the purpose behind its invention and its effects on Korea in decreasing the illiteracy rate. I could not help but to second her last sentence: "King Sejong, thank you for creating Hangeul!"

After reading her article, I wanted to thank the Koreans as well for preserving their language and traditions until now, in spite of the challenges that were against this preservation.

Korea has kept its language against all odds, even under colonization. 

Korea's language was threatened twice. This first happened when Japan colonized Korea following a policy of eradicating Korean traditions and replacing them with Japanese ones. Under Japanese rule, Koreans struggled to maintain their traditions and literature, as the Japanese had burned many historical documents and even banned the teaching of the Korean language and of Korean history. Not only had they tried to erase their history, but they forced the Japanese language to be used, too, and prohibited the usage of Korean language. Speaking Korean in Korea was no longer allowed. It was officially illegal.

The Japanese language is taught in Korean public schools during colonial times. 

Despite the efficiency of Japan's policy, the Koreans did not fall for it. They did not let go of their history or their language and traditions. In March 1919, the Koreans organized a demonstration that took place across Korea to proclaim their rights and to fight for independence. During this movement, over 7,000 people were killed by the Japanese soldiers, yet this did not stop them as they knew how valuable their country was. Neither the movement nor their lives were in vain, as in 1945 Korea has finally granted its independence when Japan had lost control over Korea.

Later on, Korea was occupied by the U.S. for a trusteeship, yet the Koreans carefully preserved their traditions, their language and their literature, regardless of whoever the colonizer was. This can be traced down to present times, too, as Korea is now facing a sharp increase in the number of tourists and non-Koreans who want to pursue their career in Korea. You will notice that the Koreans are not that shaken by the West, but instead it is the non-Koreans who are learning Korean and following Korean customs.

Therefore, Korean traditions and language are still alive thanks to the people who were aware of the importance of their heritage and were determined to hold on to it and to pass it down to following generations.

wisdom117@korea.kr