Se-jong

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."

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