National Hangeul Museum

The National Hangeul Museum near the National Museum of Korea tells the story of Korea's unique writing system: its invention by King Sejong in the fifteenth century, its suppression during the Japanese colonial period, and its development into the modern alphabet used by 80 million people. The permanent collection includes manuscript examples, printing blocks, and interactive displays explaining the phonological principles behind the alphabet's design.

The museum is free and the exhibits are well-designed with English captions. It's a good complement to a visit to the National Museum of Korea next door, and a useful place to understand something of Korean cultural distinctiveness. Allow about ninety minutes.

things to do museum itaewon
A story
King Sejong created Hangeul in 1443 with the explicit goal of making literacy accessible to common Koreans who could not learn the thousands of characters required to write Classical Chinese. His scholars' committee reportedly designed the alphabet in the shape of the mouth and tongue positions used to produce each sound — making Hangeul one of the most linguistically scientific writing systems ever created. Officials of the Joseon court resisted it for decades, seeing it as a threat to the learned elite's monopoly on writing.

Other places in Itaewon