HANGUL

also spelled Hankul, also called Onmun, Korean Han'gul (Great Script), or Onmun (Vernacular Script) alphabetic system used for writing the Korean language. The system, known as Choson muntcha in North Korea, consists of 24 letters, including 14 consonant and 10 vowel symbols. The consonant symbols are formed with curved or angled lines; vowel symbols are composed of vertical or horizontal straight lines together with short lines on either side of the main line. The development of the Hangul alphabet is traditionally ascribed to Sejong, fourth king of the Yi dynasty; the system was made the official writing system for the Korean language in the mid-1440s by one of Sejong's decrees. Because of the influence of Confucianism and of Chinese culture, however, Hangul was not used by scholars or Koreans of the upper classes until after 1945, when Korea ceased to be under Japanese rule.