The Korean Alphabet Day, also known as Hangul Day in South Korea, is a national commemorative day celebrating the invention and the proclamation of Hangul, the alphabet of the Korean language, created by the 15th century Korean monarch Sejong the Great. The creation of the Korean alphabet is honored on this holiday and is celebrated on October 9th of each year. This holiday, which is important for many Koreans, will now officially be celebrated in the United States.
Recently, the California committee approved the decision to mark the 9th of October as the Korean Alphabet Day. Many Koreans expressed excitement when they heard this news, in hopes that the Korean language will spread throughout America and the rest of the world. They were very thrilled at the idea of strengthening Korean roots as the Korean language receives more recognition on a global scale.
Many students may already be aware of the Korean culture, due to the dominating Korean pop culture and Hallyu, which are spreading around the world. Because of this, the Korean language is not something entirely new. There are also many high schools across America who offer Korean classes to those interested in the language and culture. It is anticipated that those who take a will be excited to hear that the language will now be celebrated annually.
When asked about her opinion on this news regarding the Korean language, Julianne Nguyen, a junior who loves Korean Pop, culture, and food, replied enthusiastically, “That’s so cool that the Korean language is about to be appreciated more here in America. Maybe that will be a chance to motivate me to actually learn Korean.”
It is common for young foreigners to learn Korean; one reason being that they want to understand what their favorite K-pop idols are saying at concerts or variety shows. Although Korean may be one of the more difficult languages for English speakers to learn, that makes it all the more rewarding once they finally master it. Thus, this new decision to celebrate the Korean language in America is a meaningful chance to spread awareness of the Korean language and culture to many individuals around the world.
Sungmin Stella Kim, Grade 11
Northwood High School
