Hangul Day 2020

Today’s Doodle, illustrated by South Korea-based artist Jisu Choi, commemorates Korea’s Hangul Day (한글날). One of the world’s only official holidays dedicated to a writing system, Hangul Day celebrates the invention of Korea’s alphabet known as Hangul. 

The Hangul alphabet was first unveiled in 1446 by the Choson dynasty’s King Sejong. More than 500 years later, it is still considered a remarkable achievement, even by modern linguistic standards. The 24-letter alphabet remains the only writing system in the world that separates sentences into words, syllables, individual sounds, and elements of articulation like exhalation or voicing. Despite its sophisticated representation of complex spoken language, the writing system is noted for its elegance and simplicity; in fact, it’s said that a dedicated beginner could learn Hangul in just a few hours!

Happy Hangul Day! 

Guest Artist Q&A with Jisu Choi

Today’s Doodle was illustrated by South Korea-based artist Jisu Choi. Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle:

Q: Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? 

A: As a person who makes media, understanding and interpreting the cultural background of South Korea is very important. The elements that make up the foundation of our culture vary widely. The writing system is a very important element of culture, so it was a pleasure to commemorate this historic and culturally precious heritage.

Q: What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project?

A: I wanted to make a joyful image. I like to tell stories humorously. I also wanted to include the fact that the writing system was made through the efforts of several people with specific goals.

Q: Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle?

A: I thought of a lot of the scholars. Of course, Hangul was created due to King Sejong's leadership. However, I wanted to give credit to all those who helped develop the system.

Q: What do you hope people take away from your Doodle?

A: To celebrate the beauty of the process of striving for good, quality culture.