What did President Lee Jae Myung say about Hangeul on the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day?

Lee Jae Myung described Hangeul as the face of the Republic of Korea and said the strength of the country’s language and writing is its competitiveness. He also called language the country’s heart.

Why was Hangeul Day established during the Japanese colonial period?

The Korean Language Society established Hangeul Day in 1926 as Koreans sought to preserve their language and writing system under Japanese colonial rule. Lee said their efforts reflected a determination to protect Korea’s spirit and identity even after losing the country.

How widely is Korean taught through King Sejong Institute?

King Sejong Institute, which teaches the Korean language overseas, has expanded to 89 countries since it launched in 2007. Lee said Hangeul is now learned by people around the world and should enter a century of expanded possibilities.

Lee hails Korean writing system as 'face' of country on 100th Hangeul Day

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Summary

President Lee Jae Myung hailed Hangeul as the face of the Republic of Korea in Seoul on Friday, marking the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day. He said the writing system and Korean language represent the country’s competitiveness, spirit and identity. Hangeul was created by King Sejong in 1443 and promulgated three years later. Lee said its next century should focus on expanding its possibilities worldwide.

Key Facts

Hangeul Day was established in 1926 by the Korean Language Society during the Japanese colonial period from 1910 to 1945.
Hangeul was created to augment the existing writing system based on Chinese script.
King Sejong Institute has expanded to 89 countries since launching in 2007.
Lee said Hangeul’s first century involved protecting the writing system and embedding it in daily life.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 9, 2026 11:33 am KST
Updated Oct 9, 2026 11:48 am KST

President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a national reporting session on the South Korea-style Green Great Transition (K-GX) strategy at a conference hall, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung on Friday hailed the Korean writing system – Hangeul – as the "face" of the country as he marked the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day.

"Writing is the face of the country and language is its heart," Lee wrote on Facebook, using South Korea's official name. "The strength of our language and writing is the competitiveness of the Republic of Korea."

Hangeul was invented by King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) in 1443 and promulgated three years later to augment the existing writing system based on the Chinese script.

Hangeul Day was established in 1926 by the Korean Language Society as Koreans sought to preserve their language and writing system under the brutal 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule of Korea.

"A century ago, our ancestors devoted all their efforts to preserve our language and writing system," Lee wrote. "It was a determination that even though they had lost their country, they could not lose our spirit and identity."

Lee said the writing system is now learned by people across the world, noting that King Sejong Institute, which teaches Korean language overseas, has expanded to 89 countries since it first launched in 2007.

"While the past century was a time to protect Hangeul and for it to take root in our lives, the next century will be a time to expand its possibilities."

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