Centennial of Hangeul Day Highlights Korea's Linguistic Heritage and Independence
This year marks 100 years since Hangeul Day was established, commemorating the Korean script’s role in cultural independence.
On June 10, 1926, the funeral of Yi Cheok, Korea’s final emperor, coincided with a renewed independence demonstration. About five months later, on Nov. 4, members of the Korean Language Society and pro-independence groups convened in Seoul to mark the 480th anniversary of the Hunminjeongeum. The following year they introduced the name Hangeul for the script and launched a dedicated journal, establishing an annual Hangeul Day.
The term replaced earlier pejorative labels that confined the alphabet to commoners, women, and children, and it served as a cultural assertion against Japanese linguistic suppression. Today, Hangeul enjoys global study and influence, reflecting the enduring aspirations for equality and peace that its creators envisioned.
Why it matters
Hangeul Day’s centennial underscores the power of language in national identity and decolonization.
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