[Initial Perspective] Hangul Should Be Studied to Better Suit Actual Usage

Korean Language as a Mirror Reflecting Ethnicity
Considering the Refinement of Foreign Loanword Overuse
Efforts in Hangul Research Needed for Future Generations

[Asia Economy] The upcoming 9th marks the 576th anniversary of King Sejong the Great's creation and promulgation of Hangul, our nation's script. The national language is the language of the country and the unique language used by all its people. It refers to the standard language used as the official language, inherited from ancestors over generations, forming a tradition historically, culturally, and ideologically, and continuously refined. Moreover, the national language is also a mirror reflecting the nation's identity, as the language contains the thoughts and spirit of its speakers.

Although there are countless countries on this planet, it is rare to find a nation that preserves and passes down a unique language as well as a scientific script like Hangul. Our people have made countless efforts to protect and refine Hangul, our outstanding language and script, and have endured numerous hardships. From the time of King Sejong's creation of Hunminjeongeum to the various names such as Eonmun, Eonseo, Banjeol, Anhaetgeul, Gagyageul, and Joseoneo, Hangul finally earned its name meaning "the best script in the world," "the script of a great nation," "the most well-made script," and "great script" after enduring all kinds of neglect and disparagement. Under the colonial tyranny of Japan, which sought to completely eradicate our language and script, it was thanks to Hangul scholars who risked their lives to protect it that our language and script have been preserved.

Historically, nations that firmly protected and cultivated their own scripts prospered and developed, while those that did not were pushed to the margins of history. We know this well from experience. In the early 19th century, German philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte, in his speech "To the German Nation," asserted that "the national language is formed by the people, but the people are formed by the national language," urging the exclusive use of pure German. In England, it was insisted that only English be used in Parliament and courts, and British publishers translated American books into British English, claiming that American English polluted the original language. Also, Israel, which lost its country and wandered for over 2,000 years, endured various hardships from many nations but never forgot its language. The fact that Israeli parents taught their mother tongue first before teaching the language of the country they currently lived in shows the pride and superiority they felt toward their native language.

Nowadays, many books contain numerous spelling errors, and newspapers and broadcasts are flooded with foreign terms. There is growing concern that Hangul, our national language, might become a second foreign language.

To refine and polish our language and script, we must first consider how to manage the influx of Japanese and English that came in after the Enlightenment period. This includes countless outdoor signs, announcements on subways, and speech styles. The government should widely promote policies on language so that all citizens can use language easily, correctly, conveniently, and beautifully. In particular, efforts should focus on establishing the linguistic identity shaken by the overuse of loanwords and on the national language purification project that corrects misused words and promotes the daily use of beautiful and pure Korean.

We, living in the modern era, must inherit the noble spirit of our ancestors who protected and cultivated Hangul despite all difficulties, and further refine and develop Hangul. Furthermore, we must devote more effort to Hangul research for future generations and deeply recognize that making it convenient for practical use is of utmost importance.

Lee Jae-kyung, Asia Economy Proofreading Committee Member