President Lee hails Korean writing system as 'face' of country

Key facts

• President Lee Jae Myung celebrated the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day.
• Lee described Hangeul as the "face" of South Korea.
• Hangeul was invented in 1443 by King Sejong.
• Hangeul Day was established in 1926.
• King Sejong Institutes now operate in 89 countries.

President Lee Jae Myung marked the 100th anniversary of Hangeul Day by praising the Korean writing system as the "face" of the nation. In a Facebook post on Friday, October 9, 2026, Lee stated, "Writing is the face of the country and language is its heart," adding that "The strength of our language and writing is the competitiveness of the Republic of Korea."

Hangeul was created by King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty in 1443 and officially promulgated three years later, supplementing the existing Chinese script-based writing system. Hangeul Day was established in 1926 by the Korean Language Society as a means to preserve Korean identity during the Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.

"A century ago, our ancestors devoted all their efforts to preserve our language and writing system," Lee wrote, reflecting on the determination to maintain spirit and identity despite losing the country. He also highlighted the global reach of Hangeul, noting that the King Sejong Institute, which teaches Korean language abroad, has expanded to 89 countries since its inception in 2007. Lee expressed his vision for the future, stating that while the past century was about protecting and rooting Hangeul, the next century will focus on expanding its possibilities.