Hunminjongum came into being in January 1444 (lunar December 1443) by the then excellent scholars including Jong Rin Ji and Song Sam Mun.

At that time it was composed of 28 letters with 17 consonants and 11 vowels.

Sejong Sillok (Chronicles of King Sejong), compiled in 1454, reads "This month … 28 letters have been made … this alphabet is called Hunminjongum."

Hunminjongum has various advantages.

Its basic letters were modeled on the looks of speech organs such as tongue, lips and throat. Strokes were added to them and two or three letters were mixed together in a systemic way according to the features of their sound. It is one of the advantages of Hunminjongum that it is easy to learn and write.

The creation of Hunminjongum made it possible to standardize the language of the Korean nation and ensure the unity in the ensuing linguistic life.

Hunminjongum, born of the creative wisdom and talents of the Korean nation, takes an outstanding position in developing the world's alphabet, too.

Its creation principle was registered as a part of the national intangible cultural heritage in Juche 106 (2017).