Korea / Language

Koreans all speak and write the same language, which has been a crucial factor in their strong national identity. There are several different dialects, but they are similar enough so that speakers have little trouble in understanding each other. The Korean language belongs to the Ural-Altaic group, which also includes Turkish, Hungarian, Finnish, Mongolian and Japanese.

The written alphabet, Han-gul, was developed by a group of scholars at the behest of King Sejong the Great (r. 1418-1450), the fourth monarch of the Choson Dynasty (1392-1910). Han-gul Consists of 10 vowels and 14 consonants, which can be combined to form numerous syllabic groupings. It is easy to learn and to write, factors which have greatly contributed to the high literacy rate of Koreans.