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Named for one of the best known Korean kings, Se-Jong (1418-1450).

King Sejong was born in 1397, and ascended the throne in 1418 at the age of 21. He was the fourth king of the Choson dynasty. He died in 1450 at the age of 54 and is buried in a tomb in Yongnung where Sejong Hall is also located.

King Sejong is best known for inventing the Korean Hangul alphabet in 1443 A.D. The hangul was later reduced from 28 to 24 letters. The hangul brought literacy to the general population, who could not read the classical Chinese language that was the official written language of Korea at the time. King Sejong had great respect for scholarship, as demonstrated in his letter to Song Sammun (1418-1456), one of the scholars working on the Korean alphabet.

"Unlike many other occupations, scholars have the greatest responsibility to the people. Their work can ultimately improve the lives of all people for many decades. But if an academic becomes lost in his study, he cannot see how his work can benefit others. Therefore, like a well-balanced fencing stance, or a reasonable argument, the scholar's life must be even and balanced."

King Sejong was a skilled swordsman and often referred to the sword. Like other warriors, he believed that life's problems could be solved in shaping the mind and body through the discipline of the sword. Similar to many modern martial artists and warriors, he pursued his craft for physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. In the same letter as quoted above, he addressed the creation of devising the phonic alphabet, again using a fencing metaphor:

"When I spar with the sword, I must judge to attack quickly, giving no quarter with ferocity, or to carefully assess my opponent's weaknesses, and land telling blows judiciously. Your problem - and indeed all of life's difficulties - can be seen in this light. I have no doubts that my sword will cut. It is up to my judgment based on experience and training to know how and when to lay the blade. I trust your experience and training will also lead you to a successful resolution of this problem."

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