Celebrated yearly on October 9, Hangul Proclamation Day, or Hangul Day (한글날), is a patriotic holiday in South Korea. The day celebrates Hangul, the written language of Korea, which was developed under the rule of King Sejong in the Joseon Dynasty. Previously, Koreans wrote in Hanja, a traditional Chinese derivative language. The written form of Hanja uses Chinese characters but is read with Korean pronunciation. However, King Sejong wanted to create a specifically Korean written language. Working with scholars, he devised Hangul and put it into common use in 1446. This gave Koreans something to distinguish themselves from their neighbors and occupiers.
The name upon the advent of the writing system was Hunminjeongeum but was later changed to Hangul. The language had 17 consonants and 11 vowels at its conception; however, in the modern-day, we see only 14 consonants and 10 vowels used. No other language served as an influence in the creation of Hangul. The written language is non-alphabetic and is often said to be easy to learn.
The official holiday of Hangul Proclamation Day has been celebrated yearly, with the exception of the years 1990–2012, as the day was forgone as a public holiday for business growth purposes. Now it is celebrated as a public holiday, though there don’t seem to be any specific traditions for celebration. Rather, the day seems to be centered around patriotism and pride for the nation.
In the 1920s, Hangul day was celebrated as a way to protest the oppression and suppression of Koreans and Korean culture under Japanese rule. This day serves as a reminder that their culture lived and breathed despite the rulers that came and went. In 2009, a bronze statue of King Sejong was revealed on the Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, and a museum dedicated to Hangul was later placed nearby.
We see frequently in their statements, in their clothes and outfits, and their appearances that BTS are proud Koreans. Their “Run BTS!” shows have featured numerous Korean games, meals, and themes. Previously, there have been episodes for Chuseok and the Lunar New Year. Additionally, in 2019, there was a Hangul Day special filmed at the Oil Tank Culture Park in Mapo-gu, Seoul. The three-part special saw the members challenge themselves to speak only in Korean. They played two games, one of which was a trivia game on Korean history and knowledge of Hangul, and the other was a game of tag and word creation, where they had to create words using Hangul characters.
(source: Vlive Run!BTS - Episode 87)
These episodes of celebration help shine a spotlight on Hangul and Korean culture, something BTS has always been very keen on sharing with ARMY. There has been an influx of foreigners learning Korean, and thus learning more about the culture and Hangul since BTS became a global reaching band.
While there are no specific celebrations that come with Hangul Day, a trip to the National Hangeul Museum or even just a general celebration with friends seems to be the go-to for Koreans wanting to spend the day with pride. In this way, Hangul Day can become a time for remembrance of the creation of the writing system that is unique to Koreans and that makes Korea a nation with the lowest illiteracy rate.
DISCLAIMER: We do not own any audio & visual content in this video except for the editing. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNERS. No copyright infringement intended.
Written By: Skylar
Edit By: Clare
Checked By: Vera
Comments