Friday, March 29, 2024
KOREAN HISTORYLANGUAGE&CULTURE

What can we do on Hangul Day? October 9

Hangul Day (Oct 9) is a national holiday in Korea! So there are lots of things to around central Seoul.

For instance, people gather in front of the statue of King Sejong near Gyeongbok Palace to find out more about his achievements (and take selfies of each other under the statue!)

Visitors at the statue of King Sejong on Hangul Day

Then throughout the day there are musical performances and dancing

For tourists, there are opportunities to try on traditional hanboks. And in the nearby Hangul Museum there’s a hangul writing event where anyone can write their names and nationality for the wall display.

tourists write their names in hangul on hangul day

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CIVIL SERVICE EXAM

One of the events held today is the re-enactment of the Joseon 과거 kwago exam. This was the civil service exam for upper class yangbang who wanted to become government officials. Yangbang would travel from all over the country to take it.

It was a big deal and passing it was the only way into the civil service. Of course the candidates had to write their answers in Chinese characters not hangul! (Bit ironic on Hangul Day, no?) 

In the drama Deep Rooted Tree (SBS 2011) which is about King Sejong and creating hangul, the noblemen object to the new writing system of hangul worried that it’s so easy that COMMONERS will learn to read too and then be able to take the civil service exam. Shock horror! 

Just like the noblemen in the dramas, the candidates in this reenactment sit on cushions outside in the grounds of the courtyard of Gyoungbok Palace. I like this ‘nobleman’s’ modern shoes, bag, and hat though!

civil service exam in Korea

VISITING THE JIPHYEONJEON Hall of Worthies

A meaningful place to visit on Hangul Day is King Sejong’s Hall of Worthies 집현전 jip-hyeon-cheon  which is in the grounds of Gyeoungbok Palace. This is where the king and his scholars created hangul.

Read more about the 5 palaces in Seoul

After the hangul project was completed, the building was used as a place for the king to study. (This building is not always open to the public but it was open specially for Hangul Day)

The building has several rooms separated by paper sliding doors. There’s a small exhibition inside with information on the history of hangul. The floor and ceiling are especially interesting. The floors are made of specially treated paper and the ceiling is decorated with paintings of flowers and Chinese characters.

(updated 2018) Read about more about hangul and the National Hangul Museum 

jiphyeonjeon Hall of Worthies

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