The Other Uses of the Korean Alphabet
Abstract
Hangul, the Korean alphabet, is often thought of as a symbol of Korean identity. Indeed, its inventor, King Sejong, conceived it as a writing system tailored to the Korean language. However, he also conceived it as a multipurpose phonetic tool, one that could represent not only Korean but also Chinese and other foreign languages. This multilingual function reveals the alphabet’s broader intellectual and diplomatic applications in pre-modern Korea.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Historical Linguistics and Language Studies
Classical Studies and Philology
Korean Peninsula Historical and Political Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 216–218
- Publication date
- 13 March 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter