Hangul Day celebrates the creation of the Korean alphabet by King Sejong in the 15th century. First commemorated in 1926 under colonial rule, it became a legal holiday in 1949. Today, it remains a powerful symbol of Korean identity, literacy, and cultural pride.

When is Hangul Day?

Hangul Day in South Korea is celebrated on October 3 each year.

The following is the list of Hangul Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Hangul Day?

Koreans used Classical Chinese (Hanja) for writing, which was complex and not well-suited for the Korean language. Only scholars and elites could read and write, leaving most commoners illiterate.

To solve this problem, King Sejong and scholars from the Hall of Worthies (Jiphyeonjeon, 집현전) developed a new alphabet. In 1443, Hangul was completed, and in 1446, it was officially published in the document Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음, "The Correct Sounds for the Instruction of the People").

Hangul was revolutionary because it was scientific, logical, and easy to learn, enabling literacy among ordinary people.

In 1945, after Korea's liberation from Japan, Hangul Day was restored as a celebration of national pride.

In 1949, the South Korean government declared it an official legal holiday.

In 1991, due to concerns about too many public holidays, Hangul Day lost its status as a public holiday, though it remained commemorated.

In 2013, after public and cultural campaigns, Hangul Day was reinstated as a national holiday, giving workers and students the day off.