Taekwondo athletes can be divided into two major types. The first is the offensive athlete, who uses impressive skills and shows an aggressive approach to the match. A defensive athlete, on the other hand, defends himself calmly while looking for a clean hit in order to score points. When watching the game, explore the history of each athlete to figure out what type each one is- then use the scoring method below to predict who will win.

                                                             Scoring Method

Because Taekwondo is a highly aggressive sport, men fight in 3 minute increments, 3 times, with a 1 minute break in between. Women fight in 2 minute increments, 3 times, with 1 minute breaks. Points can be added or deducted, and scores earned during each of the three sessions are tallied up at the end to determine the winner. In the case of a tie, the winner is the one who earned the most positive points. When that is impossible as well, the winner is at the discretion of the judges, who select the athlete who has shown the best attacks during the match.

How Points are Calculated

Earn Points (+2 Points)

Using feet: Knock an opponent off their feet with a strong kick to the face for 2 points.

Earn Points (+1 Points)

Using fists: When a clean hit is delivered to the blue or red areas of the protective gear on the body. A clean hit means the opponent is moved by the impact or there was a strong hitting sound.

Using feet: When a clean hit is delivered to the blue or red areas of the protective gear on the head and body.

Warnings (-0.5 Points)

1) Illegal contact

-Grabbing the opponent

-Wrestling the opponent

-Pushing the opponent

-Touching the opponent with one's body


2) Shows of cowardice

-Going outside the lines on purpose to evade attack

-Showing your back to the opponent while evading attack

-Falling on purpose

-Pretending to be hurt


3) Illegal strikes

-Impacting the forehead with the knees

-Kicking the groin area purposely

-Stepping on a fallen opponent's thighs, shins, knees, etc

-Hitting the face with the hand


4) Bad conduct

-When the athlete or coach argues about points given

-Bad conduct by the athlete or coach

-When the coach leaves his seat



Deductions (-1 Points)

1) Illegal contact

-Felling the opponent by grabbing with the hands

-Grabbing an opponent's leg during a kick in order to fell them


2) Shows of cowardice

-Going outside the match area to evade attack

-Purposely making it difficult to continue the match


3) Illegal strikes

-Hitting a fallen opponent

-Hitting an opponent after the referee orders to fall apart

-Hitting the back of the head or back purposely


4) Bad conduct

-Extremely bad conduct by the athlete or coach

History of Taekwondo

The roots of Taekwondo belong to Taekkyeon, a traditional martial art form. In turn, the roots of Taekkyeon can be traced as far back as tribal times in Korea. Taekkyeon has been known under different names throughout the ages and found quick growth during the age of the three kingdoms (a period during the 4th to 7th century when the Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje kingdoms fought with each other for dominance of the Korean peninsula). Afterwards, Taekkyeon would see more development and evolution during the Goryeo era (AD918∼ 1392), a time in which those skilled in the military arts were much respected. During that time, Taekkyeon was used as a way to determine promotions in the army. But things changed with the arrival of the Joseon era (AD1392 ~ 1910), in which the sword began to be viewed as a lowly thing. As a result, Taekkyeon slowly receded into obscurity. Currently Taekwondo, a descendent of Taekkyeon, is loved as a world class sport as a result of the painstaking effort of many individuals.

The reason why Taekwondo has been able to gain such success in modern times as a competitive sport (when compared to other Asian martial art forms) can be attributed to the fact that there has traditionally been a strong competitive aspect to Korean martial arts culture.

Taekkyeon was enjoyed in past times at many folk festivals, as a healthy competition between neighboring villages. There are records showing that men liked to place bets on the outcome of Taekkyeon matches.

The late Joseon era’s ‘Haedongjukji’ text provides the most accurate description of Takkyeon available from past records, and writes this about the martial art:

“There is something called ‘Gaksul’ (an old name for Taekkyeon) in the old ways, where two opponents face each other and places kicks in order to fell the other. There are three levels to this. The least skilled man goes for the legs, and a good man kicks the shoulders. The best man can kick as high as the head. Our ancestors used this in order to gain revenge, and even to win a woman through a bet.”

Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a martial art form and sport that that uses the hands and feet for attack and defense. The focus of Taekwondo is on training and disciplining the mind along with the body. For those learning the martial art it plays four different roles.

First, Taekwondo as an Exercise

Taekwondo is a good exercise for children who are still growing as well as a good way for grown-ups to increase their physical endurance. Taekwondo's movements require extensive use of the joints, which increases the limberness of one's body. Since there is kicking, jabbing and shouting involved, it's also a great way to relieve stress and get a good workout.

Second, Taekwondo as a Bare Handed Martial Arts Form

Taekwondo learners attack the opponent with their bare hands and feet. What sets this apart from other martial arts forms are the powerful and various leg movements involved, and which have enabled it to become a worldwide martial art. Taekwondo's attack is aggressive, but at the same time the focus is more on the defense aspect. This can act positively for those wanting to learn Taekwondo as a way of self defense for practical purposes, even in modern times.

Third, Taekwondo as a Sport

Taekwondo is an official competitive category in major world sporting events such as the Olympics, Panam Games, Asian Games, All American Games, and South American Games. Competitive Taekwondo involves safety gear and set attacks and defenses as to limit the amount of damage possible. This way, competitive martial artists can enjoy the thrill of competing with less risk.

Fourth, Taekwondo as an Educational Method

Taekwondo trains the body, but does as much to develop the mind as well. The objective of learning Taekwondo is to foster growth in both areas in order to become a more mature human being. Taekwondo learners receive repeated etiquette lessons along with the attack and defense skills to build and strengthen their character.

Hanguk Eumak Music

The burning of the heart is implicit in the sound of the voice. This is the first step of being able to understand traditional Korean music. Within traditional Korean music listeners can find the history of the Koreans, a history memorable for its sorrow and pain. Much of the music that has been passed down from previous generations deals with feeling of separation. Koreans sang songs when they could not hold their sadness in.

Of course, not all Korean music is sad. For example, royal court music is a kind of music used for ceremonies or rituals. Music played during religious services or events belongs to this category. Consequently, formal music often focuses on lauding the achievements of past kings. The strict format is more important than the content in the case of music played for official events. The display and playing of every instrument is also symbolic. One typical example of formal Korean music is the Jongmyo Shrine ritual music. It is the music that is played for the ritual services for former kings and has been appointed a world intangible heritage by UNESCO.

If formal music is for the ruling class then 'folk music' is the song of those being ruled. This genre includes the pansori, a traditional Korean narrative song, which has been named a UNESCO world intangible heritage. The pansori is a kind of music presented to audiences by skilled vocal singers and drummers.

But even the unskilled could sing these songs. They sang when they worked in the rice paddy or fields, sang when they went off their lover and sang when their life was troubled and weighing them down. The 'folk song' literally means the song of folklore. Therefore, the folk song is the traditional music sung most frequently by Koreans.

Folk songs contain the bittersweet emotion of Koreans. The quintessential Korean folk song is Arirang. Arirang is the title of a particular song that is now used as a symbol of Korea and Korean culture. There are many variations of Arirang in Korea. Arirang can vary independently depending on the region. The Jeongseon Arirang is found in Jeongseon, a remote mountain of Gangwon-do. Jindo, an island of Jeollanam-do, is home to the Jindo Arirang. The number of traditional Arirangs passed down throughout the nation can be counted in the hundreds if modified rhythms are included. The refrain is the same even though the songs may differ by region: 'Arirang Arirang Arario'. Arirang is in essence a song of farewell. The origin of the word of 'Arirang' is ‘the hill’. With 70% of its land being mountainous, there are also many foothills throughout the country. Most Koreans had partings on a number of such hills. An emotion of deep regret is imbued in the rhythm of Arirang and its very pronunciation--'Arirang’evokes the feeling of the tears shed by Koreans and the remembrance of their sad stories.

Traditional Korean music Is significantly different from that of other places. In Western music for instance, one note equals one beat. In the meter of Korean music, however, is one that phrase gets one breath. Basically, the unit of times for rhythm is different between Korea and other countries. More interestingly, there is no conductor for Korean music. The individual musicians of a group must play his or her instrument in tune with his breath and with the breath of his or her colleague's. The breath of Korean musical rhythm unites with movement. The traditional Korean music is always accompanied by dance and song. For a greater depth of view of Korean music, focus must be given to the breath of the musicians. The Korean expression 'tuning the breath' originates from the concept of rhythm in Korean music.

Hanji Paper

Hanji literally means “the paper of Korea”. The main material is the fibrous skin of the mulberry. Hanji is not simply paper. It is used in a variety of ways, and has a different name according to its use. If it is glued on a door it is called a window paper It is copy paper if it is used for a family registry book, Buddhist sutra or old books, while it becomes drawing paper. if four gracious plants or birds are drawn upon it.

The strong vitality of Korean paper is the reason it can be used in a multitude of ways. There is an old saying that paper lasts a thousand years and textiles (such as silk or hemp) last five hundred, reflecting the superior strength of paper over cloth. Koreans even used Korean paper as a suit of armor after varnishing the lacquer. It is known that the life span of Korean paper is 1,000 years. In the West, products made of paper more than 300∼400 years old are rare. But Korea has preserved quite a few books and drawings which are almost 1000 years old. The most typical example is the , which is the oldest printed material in the world. The year the was created was 751.

Korean paper was also very famous as much as Sodongpa, a famous Chinese poet in the 11th century Chinese poet said that he would like to publish his anthology with paper produced from Goryeo (The name of the Korean dynasty at that time), which was one of Korea’s main export good at that time. Koreans use Korean paper made by traditional methods for government documents or other documents.

The superiority of Korean paper comes from the material with which it is made. The bark of the mulberry is strong and can endure without decomposition when it is immersed in the water for 1 year. It allows both air and light through as the fibers are wide. High-quality Korean paper can be produced with trees that are only 1 year old, while cheaper modern paper must use the pulp from trees 20~30 years old.

The manufacturing process of Korean paper is complicated, slow and laborious. The dry mulberry is cut after the frost has arrived and is peeled off after steaming. It is immersed in water for one day and, after being dried under the sunlight, the bark is peeled off, steamed again inside an iron pot and immersed in caustic soda. The steamed bark is smashed inside a stone mortar after the water has been squeezed out. Then it is rinsed in flowing water after being placed inside a wrapper. The washed mulberry is mixed with water and a natural adhesive. Next, the fibers are strained through a bamboo screen, which is shaken back and forth to create a crisscross pattern of fibers. The pulp is then dried by stacking it on a wooden panel and placed in the sun, completing the process. Learn more about the manufacturing procedure of traditional Korean paper through a visit to the Korean paper museum in Jeonju (www.hanjimuseum.co.kr), Jeollabuk-do.

The traditional methods for making Korean paper are not being passed down as greatly as before, making the manufacturing process quite challenging these days. It is such a difficult job that traditional masters of hanji say, “I will not let my son be a container man (the person who strains the fiber through a bamboo screen) even if I am driven to the worst”.

The small quantities, a long production process and distribution limited to specialty markets make it difficult for traditional Korean paper to compete with the mass distribution of cheap easily produced modern paper. The Korean government has therefore appointed the masters of Korean papermaking as intangible cultural assets and protects the industry with special care.

The superiority of hanji has endured despite historical and global changes. There is a trend toward using hanji for another purpose, like for artwork. Artists for calligraphy and dyeing insist on using Korean paper. Black Chinese ink spreads evenly because the paper is strong and lacks impurities despite being thin. Korean paper is used widely in various art industries. Fashion shows for clothing made of hanji have been held on the Champs Elysee in Paris. A study on potential protective properties of hanji paper for space shuttles is currently underway in a joint study by Korea and the USA. Korean paper has been developed for use as a substitute for styrofoam as internal packing material.

Hanok is the traditional architecture style of Korea. The word hanokembraces all types of traditional architecture including thatched-roof, shingle-roofed and tile-roofed houses. However, these days, the term Hanok is generally understood to mean only the tile-roofed house. While the thatched-roof houses made of straw or shingle-roofed houses have nearly disappeared, the tiled roof Hanok can still be found throughout the country. There are many tiled roof houses which are being maintained as cultural heritages but many are also still private residences.

The Korean style Hanok house is not only the tradition of the past but also an effective architectural style in modern times. The attractiveness of Korean Hanok can be summarized in two points. The first is its scientific excellence, represented most by a unique heating system called the “ondol”. Ondol helps residents endure the cold of winter by heating the floors of the home. The word ondol literally means 'warming the stone And is registered in the Oxford dictionary. ' When heat coming fom the fire in the kitchen is connected to the other rooms, the layer of stone in the floor of thetarget room becomes heated. The warm air at floor level rises, keeping the temperature of the whole room comfortable.

As much of Korean daily life utilizes the floor surfaces, the ondol culture, the core of the family’s indoor temperature control, is always mentioned when discussing Korean In the west, the cold floor is often avoided, with western people preferring to sit on chairs and sleep in beds. However, the comfort of the ondol means that Korean people, rather than avoiding the floor, make full use of it. In fact, the reason why it is necessary to take of ones shoes before entering a house is to keep the floor as clean as possible. This is because the floor is used for both for dining and for sleeping; bedclothes are placed on the warmed floor at night, while during the day, the beds are rolled up and short folding tables are brought out to be used for dining.

The words ‘downside’ and ‘upside’ are both derived from ondol. The floor near the fireplace is heated and is the hottest area when the fire is burning hot. The Korean people are always aware of the need to show respect to the elderly and therefore this area, the downside, is usually reserved for elders of the family. Fires are less necessary during the summer and Korean homes kept cool by utilizing natures cooling system, the movement of air. The Hanok house has fewer walls and more doors. When the door is closed, it becomes a wall and when it is open, it brings in the breeze to keep air circulating throughout the living spaces. That is why the Hanok keeps cool in the heat of summer.

Ondol is also used for medicinal purposes. The Korean language has the phrase ‘sizzling the body’which refers to a kind of fomentation effect that is created if somebody lies on the hot floor in the cold winter. Such fomenting is known as being effective for tired or sick people, pregnant women and the elderly. To this day, Koreans prefer to forment on a toasty ondol floor when they get a cold or other such illness.

Another attraction of the Korean hanok is that it is environmentally friendly. The earth, stone, wood and paper which make up the Hanok are obtained directly from natural sources. Wood is used for pillars, rafters, doors, windows, and flooring. Walls are a mixture of straw and earth. The Korean paper used throughout the house is made from natural wood pulp and is glued to the frame of the sliding doors and the cross ribs of the windows. The floor is polished with bean oil after covering it with Korean paper, making the flooring waterproof. The Hanok breathes on its own because every material is from nature. The wood and earth breath when it is humid indoors and exhale when it is dry.

Koreans built their homes in accordance to geomancy. Houses were positioned after considering the distance and direction in line with mountains and fields as well as the location of water. The direction and structure of the position of the house were decided by this principle. The theory of geomancy is not just a simple superstition. Koreans regard a house built against the background of a mountain and facing the south as being in the most ideal location and certain points have to be taken into consideration when constructing a residential structure, such as limiting the effects of wind off the mountain, adequate ventilation and exposure to sunlight. When considering these points, the hanok is a very practical residential form.

The true beauty of the Hanok is not only skin deep. The true aesthetics of the Korean style house are experienced when viewed from the inside of the house. The outside view varies the view from the inside looking out and these aesthetics of space cannot be experienced without fully exploring the hanok.

The Hanbok is the traditional outfit of the Korean people. Koreans nowadays wear this outfit only on festive days or special anniversaries, however it was worn daily up until just 100 years ago. It is a kind of traditional formal dress and most Koreans keep a hanbok for these special times. Children wear hanbok on their first birthday and adults wear it for their wedding ceremony and on their 60th birthday. The hanbok is also worn for funerals or religious services, and is still used as casual wear in villages or districts where the traditional ways of life are still maintained such as Chunghak-dong on Mount Jirisan.

One way to refer to Korea is 'the people in white’, which refers to the fact that the Korean people often wear white or similar tones. Koreans have long worn white clothing made of hemp or cotton regardless of their status. The case of formal dress was different, however. Color and design were typically luxurious and the hanbok was particularly highly valued for its gracious and subtle colors. Modern designers have presented the traditional Korean costume at renowned cities of fashion such as Paris and New York.

The hanbok is colored using natural dyes. The colors of nature are imbued in the cloth. For example, red dye is obtained from the petals of red flowers. The color pigment is extracted by grounding the petals in a mortar, putting them in a jar and rinsing them with hot caustic soda. It is a very slow, complicated, precise process. The colors obtained in this way differ greatly from artificial dyes in their color and depth. The Hanbok is creative and emotional in its design. One Korean phrase regarding the shape of the outfit is the 'upper is narrow, lower is wide'. The jacket must be tightened and the skirt relaxed, as was the silhouette of the women’s hanbok in Joseon times. The tightly fitting jacket attractively reflects the shape of the upper body. The wide sleeves and flexible skirts enhance the wearer’s gracefulness by hiding the physical features of the lower body.

The principles behind the creation of the hanbok can be explained by the movement from 2 dimensions to 3 dimensions. The flat cloth is patterned, cut, and sewn in 2 dimensions but the subject wearing the hanbok is a 3 dimensional being. The hanbok is frilled or fastened with string to enhance the 3D affect. The unique line of the hanbok is created from this process. The lines of the hanbok costume are as smooth as the curves of the eaves of tiled roof house and as sharp. An old adage says that you can tell the man by his clothes.

Koreans have traditionally lived as one with nature, and obtained all material from natural sources for making cloth and coloring it. Koreans favor smooth curves rather than straight lines and that has added a gracious line to the hanbok. A common comment that every hanbok designer gets is that the outfit is more beautiful when it is worn than when it is on the hanger, and more beautiful when moving than when standing. Indeed, the unique lines of the hanbok appear at their greatest when the wearer is in motion.

Although hanbok have become the ritual dress of choice worn only on traditional holidays, Koreans' love for hanbok is tremendous. The popularity of Korean classic dramas is causing many foreigners to take a keener interest in traditional Korean attire as well.

[Hanbok in the 16th Century]

1. Men's hanbok                               2. Women's hanbok

       

3. Children's hanbok                        4. Ceremonial hanbok

      

                                                                               

[Headgear and Accessories Worn Together with Hanbok]

Samo

A hat worn together with dalleyong (a robe) by officials as everyday clothes.

Gat

A type of hat worn by men in the Joseon Dynasty. It was worn with po (a gown) by officials outside their homes.

[Nambawi]

A winter cap worn by both men and women to cover the forehead, upper neck, and ears. Also called pungdaengi.

[Bokgeon]

A type of hat worn by men in the Joseon Dynasty. It was worn with po by officials outside their homes.

[Hogeon]

Headgear worn by boys in the late Joseon Dynasty and the period of modernization. It is similar to bokgeon, but the crown of the head is open and patterns of ears, eyes, and beards are embroidered to show a tiger design. It was usually worn with obangjang durumagi, jeonbok, or sagyusam.

Jokduri

A type of crown worn by women to complete a ceremonial dress. It was usually worn together with wonsam (a bride's long overcoat). Hard paper and cotton filling are covered with silk, and a cloisonne ornament is placed on the top.

[Hwagwan]

A crown worn by women to complete a ceremonial dress. Adorned with butterfly ornaments, five-colored beads, and gold thread, it is more lavish than jokduri and was mostly worn with hwarot or dangui .

[Jobawi]

A winter cap for women. It is open on the top, and its sides are rounded to fully cover the ears. It was generally made in black silk with tassels hanging on the front and back. Gems sometimes decorate the tassels. Gold gilt or beads were also used for decoration.

[Gulle]

Decorative headgear to keep children warm. Mostly worn by both boys and girls aged one year to five years old. For winter use, it was made of black silk. For use in spring/fall, five-colored thin silk was used. Doturak daenggi (a hair ribbon) hangs on the back.

[Ayam]

A winter cap mostly worn by women. It does not cover the ears, and some are lined with fur. A long daenggi hangs on the back, which is called ayamdeurim , and is sometimes decorated with jade or amber.

[Dwikkoji]

An accessory pinned on knotted hair by women in the Joseon Dynasty. It also had a practical use as it was used as an earpick and a stick to part hair.

 

[Binyeo]

A rod-like hairpin used to fasten a crown or a wig and hold braided hair up. In addition to the practical use, binyeo had a decorative purpose and indicated the status of the wearer. They were referred to as yongjam, bongjam, jukjam, mokryeokjam, maejukjam , or jukjeoljam depending on the decoration on the top of binyeo . The materials, shapes, sizes, and patterns of binyeo vary greatly.

 

[Cheopji]

An ornament placed on the top of knotted hair when women wore ceremonial dresses. It was often made with silver in the shape of a frog. Long tails were attached on both sides and knotted together with the hair. Royal court ladies used it everyday, but commoners wore it only with ceremonial dress. It also functioned as a fastening for jokduri or hwagwan.

[Daenggi]

A ribbon used to tie and decorate long hair. There are a great variety, including jebiburi daenggi, apdaenggi, doturak daenggi and goidaenggi .

[Norigae]

One of the major accessories for women. The norigae pendant was widely used by royal court ladies as well as commoners. It is tied to the outer goreum (a coat string) or the waist of a skirt and gives a luxurious look to the entire outfit. The two major types of pendants are samjak norigae (a pendant with three ornaments) and danjak norigae (a pendant with one ornament). Samjak norigae is again divided into daesamjak and sosamjak . There are many types of norigae , including jangdo, su, hyangnang, horibyeong, samcheonju, baneuljip, and soknorigae.

Korean food is referred to in Korean as Hansik. While many other Asian ethnic foods such as Chinese or Japanese food have become popular throughout the world, Korean food has yet to reach its peak. The Korean government is crusading for the globalization of hansik in cooperation with companies, civic groups and the mass media. As the people of the world gain a better understanding of Korean food, its flavors, and its roots, Korean food will undoubtedly become a global commodity like the food of Korea’s neighbors.

The key to Hansik is fermentation. Every nation has their unique fermented foods such as cheese, yogurt or natto. There are many kinds of fermented foods in Korean cuisine. The purpose of fermentation is to purposely break down foods into more digestible components through the natural use of the bacteria that exists all around us. Unlike food simply going bad, fermentation represents a useful and practical change. So the Korean says not sseokhinda (to be spoiled) but “sakhinda” (to be fermented). The expression is based on the concept of in-depth understanding on fermentation. The quintessential fermented food of hansik is kimchi, and although there are hundreds of different kinds, the most internationally well known is spicy fermented cabbage. When meeting someone who has never encountered kimchi before, Koreans may introduce its as a type of salad, a kind of salad made using spices, red peppers, salt, garlic and oriental cabbage, sauerkraut with a kick, if you will. But this simple explanation leaves out the most important variable, that of fermentation, which is the entire key to how a particular batch of kimchi might taste. The kimchi that is preferred most by Korean people contains salted shrimp or anchovies and has aged underground for at least a year in a jangdokdae (large clay jar). Like a fine wine, the process of aging gives kimchi its deep taste.

Koreans express a well-aged kimchi as being "ripe". The verb of "ripe' is often used for fruits. However, the Korean use it also for many kinds of fermented food. As with fruit, edible after the process of blooming, growing and ripening on the tree, in the same way, kimchi is allowed to develop its own complexities of taste over a long period of time. The very idea of kimchi embodies the notion of extended waiting.

Some of the other typical fermented food found Korean table are jang (sauces) of all kinds including ganjang (soybean sauce), gochujang (red pepper paste) and doenjang (soybean paste) are known collectively as jang (sauces). The old saying that the taste of food is the taste of sauce is highly applicable in hansik because these sauces are the basis of Korean food. Sauces are added to most Korean dishes and foods are classified depending on the kinds and quantity of the sauces they contain

Koreans make their supply of kimchi once a year before winter to ensure they get the nutrients they need during the winter. This tradition is known as gimjang. The ‘jang’ in gimjang and ‘jang’ in ganjang, gochujang and doenjang are the same word and reflects the same basic principle of fermentation.

Another feature of hansik is that it is strongly based on vegetables. The basic composition of a table serving is steamed rice, soup and a variety of side dishes. All of them are traditionally vegetable based; in fact, a side dish of meat was typically a rare sight on the dining table of common people. The cow in Korea, which has long been an agricultural society, was regarded as a tool of labor rather than mere food.

Hansik is fundamentally a slow food, a cuisine well suited to health and well being, because it is mostly based on vegetables grown locally and aged and fermented sauces. One of the best opportunities for visitors to Korea is 'the temple stay'. The most popular type of temple stay is one that includes the true temple dining experience, which prohibits the use of meat and of artificial flavors.

As the unique taste and undeniable health benefits of hansik are becoming more widely known, the day is surely not far off where everyone will be able to enjoy hansik at home or at their neighborhood Korean restaurant.

Hangeul Alphabet

Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, refers to the series of letters that form syllables with which the Korean language is written. The most unique aspect of Hangeul is that it was intentionally created by the government as a written means of expressing the Korean language. History states that King Sejong, who was the 4th king of the Joseon Dynasty, sponsored and helped in the scientific creation of the alphabet with the help of a team of scholars, making it the most significant invention in Korean history.

Koreans take pride in their alphabet. They believe that Hangeul best demonstrates the creativity of Koreans during the past 5000 years of Korean civilization. Koreans mark the 9th of every October as a national celebration to commemorate the creation of Hangeul. As the only national celebration for an alphabet in the world, this day reflects the uniqueness of an alphabet created and systematized by a government to reflect the unique sounds of a language.

King Sejong, the creator of Hangeul, is regarded as a national hero in Korea. There are in fact only two kings commemorated as truly great kings of Korean history. One is Gwanggaetodaewang of Goguryeo, who ruled over the largest territory in Korean history, and the other is King Sejong, who created hangeul and many other significant inventions. King Sejong appears on the 10,000 won note and a statue of him stands at Gwanghwamun Square, which is a symbol of Seoul.

Hangeul is a series of creative and scientifically created characters. The alphabet was originally composed of 17 consonants and 11 vowels when it was first conceived however, now only 14 consonants and 10 vowels are used. The 5 main consonants (ㄱ, ㄴ, ㅅ, ㅁ, ㅇ) imitate the shape lips and tongue make when making that particular sound and reflect the five core elements of Oriental philosophy. The 3 main vowels (ㆍ, ㅡ, ㅣ) symbolize the sky, the earth and mankind, which are thought to be the origins of the universe. This achievement came through the brainstorming of the best scholars of the time.

Consonants and vowels are used to write words by crossing and addition. 12,768 phonemes can be made in this way however, it is easy for everyone to learn Hangeul because the composition principle of the words is so simple. Based on the desire to create a writing system that could be easily learned and accessed by all people throughout Korea, King Sejong worked to invent and distribute this alphabet throughout the nation. Because of this, the illiteracy rate in Korea is now virtually zero.

Hangeul was named Hunminjungeum at the time of its creation. Hunminjungeum means “ Correct Sounds to Instruct the People ”. The Hunminjungeum Explanation Book King Sejong created has been passed down throughout history; the Korean government has named it National Treasure No. 70 and it is now housed at the Gansong Art Museum in Sungbuk-dong, Seoul.

The quality of Hangeul has been extensively studied and praised by experts worldwide. In 1989, UNESCO initiated the King Sejong Literacy Prize, which is awarded to an individual or group, which contributes to the crusade against illiteracy. This award has been bestowed since 1990. In addition, UNESCO selected the Hunminjungeum Explanation Book as a Memory of the World in 1997.

Artwork utilizing the geometric features of the Korean alphabet has recently become a hot item. One typical example is the work of the fashion designer Sang Bong Lee. Lee received many compliments on the oriental yet modern clothing she has created using the images of the Korean alphabet while exhibiting at the pret a porter collection presentation in Paris.

Booyoung donates 6,300 pianos to Thais

Booyoung Co., Ltd, a mid-sized builder in Korea, has donated 6,300 pianos to the Thailand education authority, as part of its efforts to honor veterans who participated in the Korean War 60 years ago, the company said on Wednesday.

The donation ceremony was held at a school in Bangkok with Booyoung chairman Lee Joong-keun and members of the Thai association of veterans who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War attending.

The number of pianos offered for schools are meant to honor the 6,300 Thais who fought in the war, the company said.

The builder has been supporting schools in three Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam and Laos with education facilities and equipment.