Hangeul Day (한글날) is coming next week, let us introduce you about “Hangeul” and 36 Korean Language Institutes in Korea
Hangeul (한글), Korea’s official alphabet, was first invented by King Sejong during the Joseon Dynasty. Originally called Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음), the language was conceived in 1443, and further promulgated by the King in 1446. At the time of its inception, the language consisted of 17 consonants and 11 vowels however, since then, 3 of the originally established consonants and 1 vowel have fallen into disuse bringing the total number of characters to 24. Syllables are formed by the selective combination of vowels and consonants to create words.
The official name for the Korean language was changed to ‘Hangeul’ in 1910. Hunminjeongeum Proclamation Day was called ‘Gagya Proclamation Day’ up until 1926, and it wasn’t until 1928 that it was changed to its current title, ‘Hangeul Proclamation Day’.
The chart below represents the 24 Hangeul characters together with their romanized equivalents. ‘The Hunminjeongeum,’ a historical document which provides instructions to educate people on the use of Hangeul, is registered with UNESCO. UNESCO awards a ‘King Sejong Literacy Prize,’ every year in memory of the inventor of Hangeul.
Hangeul written in syllabic units made up of two, three, or four letters.
Korean Language Institutes in Korea
Seoul
- Seoul Dongguk University Institute of International Language
website: interlang.dongguk.edu (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
2. Duksung International Language Center
website: dilc.duksung.ac.kr (Korean, English)
3. Ewha Language Center
website: elc.ewha.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
4. Hanyang University International Language Institute
website: hyili.hanyang.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
5. Hongik Korean Language Institute
website: huniv.hongik.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
6. HUFS Center for Korean Language and Culture
website: korean.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
7. KMU Institute of International Education
website: iie.kookmin.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
8. Konkuk University Language Institute
website: kfli.konkuk.ac.kr (Korean, Chinese)
9. Korea University Korean Language Center
website: klcc.korea.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
10. Kyung Hee University Institute of International Education
website: eng.iie.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
11. Gangnam-University of California Riverside International Education Center
website: gnucr.org (Korean, English)
12. SNU Korean Language Education Center
website: language.snu.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
13. Sogang University Korean Language Education Center
website: klec.sogang.ac.kr (Korean, English)
14. Sookmyung Women’s University LinguaExpress
website: lingua.sookmyung.ac.kr (Korean, English)
15. SKKU Sungkyun Language Institute
website: koreansli.skku.edu (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
16. Myongji University Korean Language Institute
website: abroad.mju.ac.kr (Korean, English, Chinese)
17. University of Seoul Institute of International Cooperation and Education
website: kiice.uos.ac.kr (Korean, English)
18. Yonsei University Korean Language
website: Institute yskli.com (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
19. Sejong University Center for International Education
website: ili.sejong.ac.kr (Korean, English, Chinese)
20. Sangmyung University International Language and Culture Education Center
website: cklc.smu.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Incheon
21. Incheon University Korean Language Institute
website: inu.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Mongolian, Russian, Burmese)
22. Inha University INHA Language Training Center
website: ltc.inha.ac.kr (Korean, English, Chinese)
Gyeonggi-do
23. Ajou University Language Institute
website: ali.ajou.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
24. Chung-Ang University Korean Language Program
website: korean.cau.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Chungcheong-do
25. CNBU Office of International Service
website: cia.chungbuk.ac.kr (Korean, English, Chinese)
26. Dankook University Korean Language Education Center (Cheonan)
website: klec.dankook.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Mongolian)
Daejeon
27. CNU Language Education Center
website: dream.cnu.ac.kr (Korean, English, Chinese)
28. Hannam University Center for Korean Study
website: hankls.hnu.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Jeolla-do
29. Chonbuk National University Center for Language Education
website: lec.chonbuk.ac.kr (Korean, English, Chinese)
30. Mokpo National University Institute of International Exchange and Education
website: iiee.mokpo.ac.kr (Korean, English, Chinese)
Gwangju
31. Chonnam National University Language Education Center (Gwangju/Yeosu)
website: language.jnu.ac.kr (Korean, English, Chinese)
Gyeongsang-do
32. Changwon National University the Korean Language Institution
website: eng.changwon.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
33. Gyeongsang National University Office of International and External Cooperation
website: english.gnu.ac.kr (Korean, English, Chinese)
Busan
34. Pukyong National University International Student Services
website: korean.pknu.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
35. Pusan National University International Language Institute
website: ili.pusan.ac.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Daegu
36. Kyungpook National University Korean Language Institute
website: gp.knu.ac.kr (Korean, English, Chinese)
* This information was last updated in August 2015, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check details from the official websites to confirm.
<Last updated on August 25, 2015>
Source: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/
