L | A (Translated with ChatGPT)
By Kim Kyung-jae
Kim Kyung-jae, Honorary Professor at Hanshin University (Advisory Board Member of this publication)
Three Fundamental Questions We Ask Ourselves in October
In the midst of October, when the sky is high and clear, there are two important holidays. One is October 3rd, National Foundation Day, and the other is October 9th, Hangul Day. Today's column aims to reflect on the interrelated significance of the Korean people, Hangul, and the Hangul Bible from a Korean cultural-theological perspective.
With the arrival of October, we ask ourselves the following three questions:
(i) Who are we as the Korean people? Where did our nation come from, and what characteristics have allowed us to endure for 5,000 years as a unique people, instead of being absorbed and disappearing into the continental Chinese or Slavic peoples of Russia, while situated at the end of the Northeast Asian continent?
(ii) Do we fully recognize the value and significance of the cultural achievement of 'Hangul Creation,' which is not only the greatest cultural product during the 500 years of the Joseon Dynasty but also an astonishing and great achievement throughout our 5,000-year history?
(iii) What meaning and impact does the translation of the Bible into Hangul hold, not just as a Christian scripture, but also in relation to the development of the Korean people and the Hangul language?
The Roots of the Korean People and the Dual Nature of Their Character
Where do the roots and origins of our Korean people come from?
While we often speak casually about our 5,000-year-long history, it is unlikely that our nation descended from the heavens to the Baekdu Mountain area in ancient times when the population was sparse.
A significant academic contribution to understanding our people’s origins, history, lineage, physiology, language, and customs has been made by the Institute of Ethnic Culture at Korea University, particularly through the publication of the six-volume series Korean Cultural History, with Volume 1, Ethnicity - National History, first published in 1964.
Due to space limitations, it is impossible to summarize the research findings mentioned above; instead, we present them for the reference of interested readers.
However, a common view in academia is as follows: Around 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, a group of people living in the ancient city-states of Sumer and Babylon in the present-day Middle East gradually migrated eastward. They eventually dispersed across the Mongolian steppes and the Manchuria region, which is now known as Northeast China.
Among them, a unique group referred to as the Dongyi in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, written in the 3rd century, is considered to be the root of the Korean people. These groups were the main forces of Gojoseon, Goguryeo, and Balhae, and they form the basis of the continental traits—namely, a spirited, brave, and justice-seeking national character—flowing through the lineage of the Korean people.
Among the ancient Chinese texts left behind, in addition to the aforementioned Records of the Three Kingdoms, there is also the Classic of Mountains and Seas. This ancient book discusses the customs, religious myths, and temperaments of various ancient peoples and nations surrounding the Chinese mainland.
In this text, Ham Seok-heon emphasizes two important mentions regarding the temperament and customs of the Dongyi people in his work Korean History Through Its Meaning (pp. 86-90). He highlights the description of 'gentle kindness without conflict' and the character traits of 'bravery, agility, and pride' as they ride horses with swords at their waists while shooting arrows.
Thus, the portrayal of the early ancestors of the Korean people reflects seemingly contradictory dualities. There exists a dual nature within their temperament: gentleness and agility, righteousness and bravery, as well as a pursuit of peace alongside the use of weapons.
As of today, in 2024, there are two distinct states formed in South and North Korea, both of which simultaneously joined the UN on September 18, 1991. However, they continue to growl at each other without mutual recognition, engaging in dangerous military posturing under the guise of patriotism, posing a risk of mutual destruction for our nation.
The spirit of harmony, kindness, humility, righteousness, and the pursuit of peace has faded, giving way to a rough and aggressive demeanor in both South Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Is this acceptable? What value is there in celebrating National Foundation Day hundreds of times while proclaiming 'Hongik Ingan' (to benefit all humanity)? October has arrived, a time for us to pause from our frenzied pace and reconsider who we are.
The constitution serves as the foundation and root of all laws, illuminating the identity of the state. However, Articles 3, 4, and 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea contain contradictory and conflicting content that remains unaddressed.
Article 3 defines the territory, stating, 'The territory of the Republic of Korea consists of the Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands.' Article 4 declares, 'The Republic of Korea aims for unification and establishes and promotes a peaceful unification policy based on a free democratic order.' Article 5, Section 1, specifies, 'The Republic of Korea strives to maintain international peace and denies aggressive wars.
To put it bluntly, Article 3 asserts that the territory of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, located in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, belongs to the southern nation of South Korea. The crux of Article 4 is that, in pursuing democracy, a peaceful unification policy is established and promoted. Article 5 emphasizes compliance with the UN Charter and the denial of aggressive wars.
However, what is the reality? It contradicts the constitution. Our current situation, where both southern and northern political leaders indoctrinate and govern the populace without any sense of the issues at hand, reveals our true state.
While both North and South Korea are members of the UN and over 200 member states acknowledge the existence of these two separate nations, it is only we, the Korean people, who tend to ignore this reality. A nation that lacks the courage to confront historical truths has no future.
Hangul's creation is the greatest miracle in our 5,000-year history and a force that opens the way to the future
October 9th is designated as Hangul Day. Hangul, also known as Hunminjeongeum, was completed in 1443 (the 25th year of King Sejong's reign) and, after undergoing experimentation, was officially promulgated in early October 1946. It is the greatest achievement of our Korean people and a point of pride for the world.
King Sejong experienced fierce power struggles surrounding the hereditary succession of the throne during the early years of the Joseon Dynasty. This motivated him to establish a vision for creating a completely new culture.
He gathered prominent scholars, such as Shin Suk-ju and Seong Sam-mun, at the Hall of Worthies (Jiphyeonjeon) to develop a script suitable for the language used daily by the people—resulting in the creation of Hangul.
In expressing the author's honest opinion regarding the 500-year history of the Joseon Dynasty, while some remarkable academic achievements such as Confucianism are recognized, it is generally viewed as a history of failure in political, economic, cultural, and social aspects. This ultimately led to the tragic loss of the nation to Japan and the humiliation of colonial rule.
However, the achievement of Hangul creation during the reign of King Sejong alone is more than enough to compensate for the failures of the 500 years of the Yi dynasty. Although the bleak political reality often breeds despair, reflecting on the national character and resilience embodied in the creation of Hangul inspires hope for the future development and maturation of the Korean people.
In major city bookstores, such as Kyobo Bookstore in Gwanghwamun or Youngpoong Bookstore located underground in Jonggak, one can see thousands of renowned domestic and international titles filled in the spacious areas, all written or translated in Hangul.
After the brutal 36-year period of Japanese colonial rule, which prohibited the use of Hangul and our language, the Korean people achieved cultural accomplishments in a mere 80 years that took Western European civilization 800 years of gradual development following the Reformation in 1516.
The remarkable growth of K-Pop culture, which excites youth around the world, is also fundamentally rooted in the power of the Hangul script.
The Hunminjeongeum Haerye, discovered in 1940 in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, provides a detailed explanation of the spirit, philosophy, objectives, phonology, and phonetics of the creation of Hangul.
The proud creation of Hangul is based on three fundamental principles. The first is the 'spirit of national sovereignty', the second is the 'people-centered spirit', and the third is the 'scientific spirit', which involves studying and adapting to the ways of existence of nature and humanity.
Creating and promulgating a new script for one's own nation while having China, the political and cultural superpower of the time, right next door required an unimaginable amount of courage and creative spirit, even by today's standards.
As stated in the preface of Hunminjeongeum, it was declared that Hangul was created to overcome the suffering faced by common people due to the differences between spoken and written language. This embodies the essence of true people-centered governance.
Additionally, we must pay attention to the 'scientific spirit' involved in the creation of Hangeul, which meticulously studied all known phonology, principles of articulation, and the structure of the human mouth at that time.
Currently, Hangul consists of 24 consonants and vowels that can be combined and represented in various forms—vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and circularly—allowing for a free and dynamic expression in writing styles, from traditional print to flowing scripts that seem to dance. Hangul embodies the strength and resilience of our nation and serves as the root of all cultural and artistic activities.
Moreover, with the translation of the Bible into Hangul, it has become a medium of 'spirit and truth' for the Korean people, much like a fish encountering seawater.
Hangul is the best gift bestowed upon us by heaven and is the greatest cultural creation of our ethnic group. We must all stop the divisions and hatred, and reflect on who we are, where we come from, where we are headed, and what our greatest strengths and weaknesses are.
By Kim Kyung-jae
Kim Kyung-jae, Honorary Professor at Hanshin University (Advisory Board Member of this publication)
Three Fundamental Questions We Ask Ourselves in October
In the midst of October, when the sky is high and clear, there are two important holidays. One is October 3rd, National Foundation Day, and the other is October 9th, Hangul Day. Today's column aims to reflect on the interrelated significance of the Korean people, Hangul, and the Hangul Bible from a Korean cultural-theological perspective.
With the arrival of October, we ask ourselves the following three questions:
(i) Who are we as the Korean people? Where did our nation come from, and what characteristics have allowed us to endure for 5,000 years as a unique people, instead of being absorbed and disappearing into the continental Chinese or Slavic peoples of Russia, while situated at the end of the Northeast Asian continent?
(ii) Do we fully recognize the value and significance of the cultural achievement of 'Hangul Creation,' which is not only the greatest cultural product during the 500 years of the Joseon Dynasty but also an astonishing and great achievement throughout our 5,000-year history?
(iii) What meaning and impact does the translation of the Bible into Hangul hold, not just as a Christian scripture, but also in relation to the development of the Korean people and the Hangul language?
The Roots of the Korean People and the Dual Nature of Their Character
Where do the roots and origins of our Korean people come from?
While we often speak casually about our 5,000-year-long history, it is unlikely that our nation descended from the heavens to the Baekdu Mountain area in ancient times when the population was sparse.
A significant academic contribution to understanding our people’s origins, history, lineage, physiology, language, and customs has been made by the Institute of Ethnic Culture at Korea University, particularly through the publication of the six-volume series Korean Cultural History, with Volume 1, Ethnicity - National History, first published in 1964.
Due to space limitations, it is impossible to summarize the research findings mentioned above; instead, we present them for the reference of interested readers.
However, a common view in academia is as follows: Around 5,000 to 6,000 years ago, a group of people living in the ancient city-states of Sumer and Babylon in the present-day Middle East gradually migrated eastward. They eventually dispersed across the Mongolian steppes and the Manchuria region, which is now known as Northeast China.
Among them, a unique group referred to as the Dongyi in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, written in the 3rd century, is considered to be the root of the Korean people. These groups were the main forces of Gojoseon, Goguryeo, and Balhae, and they form the basis of the continental traits—namely, a spirited, brave, and justice-seeking national character—flowing through the lineage of the Korean people.
Among the ancient Chinese texts left behind, in addition to the aforementioned Records of the Three Kingdoms, there is also the Classic of Mountains and Seas. This ancient book discusses the customs, religious myths, and temperaments of various ancient peoples and nations surrounding the Chinese mainland.
In this text, Ham Seok-heon emphasizes two important mentions regarding the temperament and customs of the Dongyi people in his work Korean History Through Its Meaning (pp. 86-90). He highlights the description of 'gentle kindness without conflict' and the character traits of 'bravery, agility, and pride' as they ride horses with swords at their waists while shooting arrows.
Thus, the portrayal of the early ancestors of the Korean people reflects seemingly contradictory dualities. There exists a dual nature within their temperament: gentleness and agility, righteousness and bravery, as well as a pursuit of peace alongside the use of weapons.
As of today, in 2024, there are two distinct states formed in South and North Korea, both of which simultaneously joined the UN on September 18, 1991. However, they continue to growl at each other without mutual recognition, engaging in dangerous military posturing under the guise of patriotism, posing a risk of mutual destruction for our nation.
The spirit of harmony, kindness, humility, righteousness, and the pursuit of peace has faded, giving way to a rough and aggressive demeanor in both South Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Is this acceptable? What value is there in celebrating National Foundation Day hundreds of times while proclaiming 'Hongik Ingan' (to benefit all humanity)? October has arrived, a time for us to pause from our frenzied pace and reconsider who we are.
The constitution serves as the foundation and root of all laws, illuminating the identity of the state. However, Articles 3, 4, and 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea contain contradictory and conflicting content that remains unaddressed.
Article 3 defines the territory, stating, 'The territory of the Republic of Korea consists of the Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands.' Article 4 declares, 'The Republic of Korea aims for unification and establishes and promotes a peaceful unification policy based on a free democratic order.' Article 5, Section 1, specifies, 'The Republic of Korea strives to maintain international peace and denies aggressive wars.
To put it bluntly, Article 3 asserts that the territory of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, located in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, belongs to the southern nation of South Korea. The crux of Article 4 is that, in pursuing democracy, a peaceful unification policy is established and promoted. Article 5 emphasizes compliance with the UN Charter and the denial of aggressive wars.
However, what is the reality? It contradicts the constitution. Our current situation, where both southern and northern political leaders indoctrinate and govern the populace without any sense of the issues at hand, reveals our true state.
While both North and South Korea are members of the UN and over 200 member states acknowledge the existence of these two separate nations, it is only we, the Korean people, who tend to ignore this reality. A nation that lacks the courage to confront historical truths has no future.
Hangul's creation is the greatest miracle in our 5,000-year history and a force that opens the way to the future
October 9th is designated as Hangul Day. Hangul, also known as Hunminjeongeum, was completed in 1443 (the 25th year of King Sejong's reign) and, after undergoing experimentation, was officially promulgated in early October 1946. It is the greatest achievement of our Korean people and a point of pride for the world.
King Sejong experienced fierce power struggles surrounding the hereditary succession of the throne during the early years of the Joseon Dynasty. This motivated him to establish a vision for creating a completely new culture.
He gathered prominent scholars, such as Shin Suk-ju and Seong Sam-mun, at the Hall of Worthies (Jiphyeonjeon) to develop a script suitable for the language used daily by the people—resulting in the creation of Hangul.
In expressing the author's honest opinion regarding the 500-year history of the Joseon Dynasty, while some remarkable academic achievements such as Confucianism are recognized, it is generally viewed as a history of failure in political, economic, cultural, and social aspects. This ultimately led to the tragic loss of the nation to Japan and the humiliation of colonial rule.
However, the achievement of Hangul creation during the reign of King Sejong alone is more than enough to compensate for the failures of the 500 years of the Yi dynasty. Although the bleak political reality often breeds despair, reflecting on the national character and resilience embodied in the creation of Hangul inspires hope for the future development and maturation of the Korean people.
In major city bookstores, such as Kyobo Bookstore in Gwanghwamun or Youngpoong Bookstore located underground in Jonggak, one can see thousands of renowned domestic and international titles filled in the spacious areas, all written or translated in Hangul.
After the brutal 36-year period of Japanese colonial rule, which prohibited the use of Hangul and our language, the Korean people achieved cultural accomplishments in a mere 80 years that took Western European civilization 800 years of gradual development following the Reformation in 1516.
The remarkable growth of K-Pop culture, which excites youth around the world, is also fundamentally rooted in the power of the Hangul script.
The Hunminjeongeum Haerye, discovered in 1940 in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, provides a detailed explanation of the spirit, philosophy, objectives, phonology, and phonetics of the creation of Hangul.
The proud creation of Hangul is based on three fundamental principles. The first is the 'spirit of national sovereignty', the second is the 'people-centered spirit', and the third is the 'scientific spirit', which involves studying and adapting to the ways of existence of nature and humanity.
Creating and promulgating a new script for one's own nation while having China, the political and cultural superpower of the time, right next door required an unimaginable amount of courage and creative spirit, even by today's standards.
As stated in the preface of Hunminjeongeum, it was declared that Hangul was created to overcome the suffering faced by common people due to the differences between spoken and written language. This embodies the essence of true people-centered governance.
Additionally, we must pay attention to the 'scientific spirit' involved in the creation of Hangeul, which meticulously studied all known phonology, principles of articulation, and the structure of the human mouth at that time.
Currently, Hangul consists of 24 consonants and vowels that can be combined and represented in various forms—vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and circularly—allowing for a free and dynamic expression in writing styles, from traditional print to flowing scripts that seem to dance. Hangul embodies the strength and resilience of our nation and serves as the root of all cultural and artistic activities.
Moreover, with the translation of the Bible into Hangul, it has become a medium of 'spirit and truth' for the Korean people, much like a fish encountering seawater.
Hangul is the best gift bestowed upon us by heaven and is the greatest cultural creation of our ethnic group. We must all stop the divisions and hatred, and reflect on who we are, where we come from, where we are headed, and what our greatest strengths and weaknesses are.
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