King Sejong Promulgates the Hangul Alphabet

King Sejong of Joseon Korea, working with scholars from the Hall of Worthies, completed a 28-letter phonetic alphabet designed so common people could learn to read within days. Consonant shapes were modeled on the positions of the vocal organs during speech, while vowels reflected neo-Confucian principles of heaven, earth, and humanity. The system replaced dependence on Chinese characters that required years of study. Sejong formally published the script in 1446 through the Hunminjeongeum document. Aristocratic scholars opposed it, fearing literate commoners would destabilize the social order.