Hunmin Jeongeum

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Template:Koreanname hanja Promulgated in September or October 1446, Hunmin Jeongeum (lit. The Correct/Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People) was an entirely new and native script for the Korean people. The script was initially named after the publication, but later came to be known as Hangul. It was composed by King Sejong the Great personally, so that the common people illiterate in Hanja could accurately and easily read and write the Korean language. He faced fierce opposition from his own scholars of the Hall of Worthies (Jiphyeonjeon) and the literati of the time. Its supposed publication date, October 9, is now Hangul Day in South Korea.

The publication contains a preface, the alphabet letters (jamo), and brief descriptions of their corresponding sounds. It is later supplemented by a longer document called Hunmin Jeongeum Haerye. To distinguish it from its supplement, Hunmin Jeongeum is sometimes called the "Samples and Significance Edition of Hunmin Jeongeum" (훈민정음예의본 ; 訓民正音例義本).

The first paragraph of the document reveals King Sejong's motivation and reason for making the Hangul:

나랏말 싸미 듕국에 달아 문짜와로 서로 사맛디 아니할쌔 이런 전차로 어린 백셩이 이르고져 할배이셔도 마참내 제 뜻을 시러펴지 못할 노미 하니라 내 이랄 위하야 어엿비 여겨 스물여덜 자를 맹가노니 사람마다 해여 수비니겨 날로 쑤메 편한케 하고져 할 따라미니라

Romanization: narasmal ssami dyungguke dara munjjawaro seoro samasdi anihalssae ireon jeoncharo eorin baegsyeongi ireugojyeo halbaeisyeodo machamnae je ddeuseul sireopyeoji moshal nomi hanara nae iral wihaya eoyeosbi yeogyeo seumulyeodeol jareul maengganoni sarammada haeyeo subinigyeo nalro ssume pyeonhanke hagojyeo hal ddaraminira

Translation: Because our language is different from China's, it is not communicable with [Chinese] letters. Therefore, when the simple people wish to communicate something, many cannot achieve their intent. Because I am saddened by this, I have made 28 letters, which may be easily learned by everyone and be convenient in daily use.

The manuscript of the original Hunmin Jeongeum has two versions:

Seven pages of Hanja and written in Classical Chinese, except where the Hangul symbols are mentioned. Three copies are left:
- The one found at the beginning of the Haerye copy
- The one included in Sejong Sillok (세종실록; 世宗實錄; "The Sejong Chronicles"), Volume 113.
Another, 36 pages, extensively annotated in Hangul, and all Hanja used have their Hangul counterpart written smaller immediately below them slightly to the right. The Hangul were written in both ink-brush and geometric styles. Four copies are left:
- At the beginning of Weorin Seokbo (월인석보; 月印釋譜), an annotated Buddhist scripture
- One preserved by Park Seungbin
- One preserved by Kanazawa, a Japanese
- One preserved by the Japanese Ministry of Royal Affairs

Kept in the Kansong Art Museum (간송 미술관; 澗松美術館), it is South Korean National Treasure number 70 and has been a UNESCO Memory of the World Register since October 1997.

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