Sejong the Great

"Sejong" redirects here. For the city, see Sejong City. For other uses, see Sejong (disambiguation).

"Sejong of Joseon" redirects here. Not to be confused with Sejo of Joseon.

Sejong of Joseon (10 April 1397 – 17 February 1450),^[ii] personal name Yi Do (Korean: 이도; Hanja: 李祹), commonly known as Sejong the Great (Korean: 세종대왕; Hanja: 世宗大王), was the fourth ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea and the inventor of Hangul, the native alphabet of the Korean language. Today, he is regarded as one of the greatest leaders in Korean history.

Sejong of Joseon 朝鮮世宗 조선 세종
Bronze statue of Sejong the Great at Deoksu Palace
King of Joseon
Reign	10 August 1418 – 17 February 1450
Coronation	Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeongbok Palace
Predecessor	Taejong
Successor	Munjeong
Regent	Crown Prince Yi Hyang (1439–1450)
Crown Prince of Joseon
Tenure	3 June 1418 – 10 August 1418
Predecessor	Crown Prince Yi Je
Successor	Crown Prince Yi Hyang
Born	Yi Do (이도; 李祹) 10 April 1397 Junsu-bang, Hanseong, Joseon
Died	17 February 1450(1450-02-17) (aged 52) Grand Prince Yeongeung's Mansion,^[i] Hanseong, Joseon
Burial	Yeongneung Mausoleum, Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
Spouse	Queen Soheon ​ ​ (m. 1408; died 1446)​
Issue among others...	Munjong of Joseon Sejo of Joseon
Era name and dates Adopted the era name of the Ming dynasty: Yeongnak (Yongle) (영락; 永樂): 1418–1424 Honghui (Hongxi) (홍희; 洪熙): 1425 Seondeok (Xuande) (선덕; 宣德): 1426–1435 Jeongtong (Zhengtong) (정통; 正統): 1436–1449 Gyeongtae (Jingtai) (경태; 景泰): 1450 Posthumous name Joseon: King Jangheon Yeongmun Yemu Inseong Myeonghyo the Great 장헌영문예무인성명효대왕 莊憲英文睿武仁聖明孝大王 Ming dynasty: Jangheon (장헌; 莊憲) Temple name Sejong (세종; 世宗)
Clan	Jeonju Yi clan
Dynasty	House of Yi
Father	Taejong of Joseon
Mother	Queen Wongyeong
Religion	Korean Confucianism (Neo-Confucianism) → Korean Buddhism

Korean name
Hangul	세종
Hanja	世宗
Revised Romanization	Sejong
McCune–Reischauer	Sejong
Birth name
Hangul	이도
Hanja	李祹
Revised Romanization	I Do
McCune–Reischauer	Yi To
Childhood name
Hangul	막동
Hanja	莫同
Revised Romanization	Makdong
McCune–Reischauer	Maktong
Courtesy name
Hangul	원정
Hanja	元正
Revised Romanization	Wonjeong
McCune–Reischauer	Wŏnjŏng

Initially titled Grand Prince Chungnyeong (Korean: 충녕대군; Hanja: 忠寧大君), he was the third son of King Taejong and Queen Wongyeong. In 1418, Sejong replaced his eldest brother, Yi Je, as crown prince; a few months later, Taejong voluntarily abdicated the throne in his favor. Despite this, Sejong was a mere figurehead, while his father continued to hold the real power and govern the country until his death in 1422.

Sejong reinforced Korean Confucian and Neo-Confucian policies, and enacted major legal amendments (공법; 貢法). He personally created and promulgated the Korean alphabet,^[1][2] encouraged advancements in science and technology, and introduced measures to stimulate economic growth. He dispatched military campaigns to the north and instituted the Samin Jeongchaek (사민정책; 徙民政策; lit. 'Peasants Relocation Policy') to attract new settlers to the region. To the south, he helped subjugate Japanese pirates through the Ōei Invasion.

From 1439, he became increasingly ill^[3] and his eldest son, Crown Prince Yi Hyang (future King Munjong), acted as regent.

Name

Although the appellation "the Great" (대왕; 大王) was posthumously given to almost every monarch from the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, this style is usually associated with Gwanggaeto and Sejong.^{[citation needed]}

Early life

He was born on 10 April 1397,^[4] which was later adjusted to 15 May, after Korea's adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1896. This date is his officially recognized birthday, and is celebrated along with National Teachers Day in South Korea.^[5]

Sejong was the son of King Taejong by his wife, Queen Wongyeong.^[6] When he was twelve, he became Grand Prince Chungnyeong (충녕대군). During childhood, he was favored by his father over his two older brothers.

As the third son of the king, his ascension to the throne was unique. Taejong's eldest son, Yi Je (이제), was named heir apparent in 1404. However, his free spirited nature as well as his preference for hunting and leisure activities resulted in his removal from the position in June 1418. Though it is said that he abdicated in favor of Sejong, there are no definitive records. Taejong's second son, Grand Prince Hyoryeong (효령대군), became a Buddhist monk upon the elevation of his younger brother.

Following Yi Je's demotion, Taejong moved quickly to secure his third son's place as heir apparent, and the government was purged of officials who disagreed with the change. In September 1418, Taejong abdicated. However, even in retirement he continued to influence government policy. Sejong's surprising political skill and creativity did not become apparent until after his father's death in 1422.

Governance

Religion

King Sejong reorganized the government by appointing people from different social classes as civil servants.^{[citation needed]} Furthermore, he performed government ceremonies according to Confucianism, and encouraged people to behave according to the teachings of Confucius.^[7]

He suppressed Buddhism by banning outside monks from entering Hanseong (modern Seoul) and reduced the seven schools of Buddhism down to two, Seon and Gyo, drastically decreasing the power and wealth of the religious leaders.^[8] One of the key factors in this suppression was Sejong's reform of the land system. This policy resulted in temple lands being seized and redistributed for development, with the monks losing large amounts of economic influence.^[9][10] During the Goryeo dynasty, monks wielded a strong influence in politics and the economy. With the dominant powers of Joseon now being devout Confucianists, Buddhism was considered a false philosophy and the monks were viewed as corrupted by power and money.^{[citation needed][dubious ]} The Seokbosangjeol, a 24-volume Korean-language translation of Chinese Buddhist texts (a biography of Buddha and some of his sermons), was commissioned and published in Sejong's reign by his son Suyang, as an act of mourning for Queen Soheon.

In 1427, Sejong also gave a decree against the Huihui (Korean Muslim) community that had held special status and stipends since Yuan dynasty's rule over Goryeo. The Huihui were forced to abandon their headgear, to close down their "ceremonial hall" (a mosque in the city of Gaegyeong, in present-day Kaesong) and worship like everyone else. No further mention of Muslims exist during the Joseon era.^[11]

Economy

In the early years of the Joseon dynasty, the economy was based on a barter system with cloth, grain, and cotton being the most common forms of currency. In 1423, under King Sejong’s administration, the government attempted to develop a national currency modeled off of the Tang dynasty's Kaiyuan Tongbao. The Joseon Tongbo was a bronze coin, backed by a silver standard, with 150 coins being equal to 600 grams of silver. Production of the Joseon Tongbo ceased in 1425 because they were too expensive to make, with the exchange rate falling to less than the intrinsic value of the coin.^[12]

Foreign policy

Sejong collaborated closely with China's Ming dynasty. In relations with Jurchen people, he installed ten military posts (사군육진, 四郡六鎭), in the northern part of the peninsula.^[13]

He opened three ports to trade with Japan. However, he also launched expeditions to crush Japanese pirates (known as Waegu) in the East China Sea.^[14]

Military

King Sejong was an effective military planner. He created various military regulations to strengthen the safety of his kingdom,^[15] and supported the advancement of military technology, including cannon development. Different kinds of mortars and fire arrows were tested as well as the use of gunpowder.^{[citation needed]}

In June 1419, under the advice and guidance of his father, Sejong embarked upon the Ōei Invasion. The ultimate goal of this military expedition was to remove the nuisance of Japanese pirates who had been operating close to Tsushima Island. During the invasion, 245 Japanese were killed, and another 110 were captured in combat, while 180 Korean soldiers died. More than 150 kidnap victims (146 Chinese and 8 Koreans) were also liberated. A truce was made in July 1419 and the Joseon army returned to the Korean peninsula, but no official documents were signed until 1443. In this agreement, known as the Treaty of Gyehae, the daimyo of Tsushima promised to pay tribute to the king of Joseon, and in return, the Joseon court rewarded the Sō clan with preferential rights regarding trade between the two countries.^[16][17]

In 1433, Sejong sent Kim Jong-seo, a prominent general, to the north to destroy the Jurchens (later known as the Manchus). Kim's military campaign captured several fortresses, pushed north, and expanded Korean territory, to the Songhua River.^[18][19][20] Four counties and six commanderies were established to safeguard the people from the Jurchens.

Science, technology, and agriculture

 

A modern reconstruction and scaled down model of Jang Yeong-sil's self-striking water clock.

In 1420, King Sejong's love for science led him to create an institute within Gyeongbok Palace known as the Hall of Worthies (Jiphyeonjeon; literally "Jade Hall"; 집현전, 集賢殿). The institute was responsible for conducting scientific research with the purpose of advancing the country's technology. The Hall of Worthies was meant to be a collection of Joseon's best and brightest thinkers, with the government offering grants and scholarships to encourage young scholars to attend.^[21][22]

Sejong promoted the sciences.^[23][24] He wanted to help farmers so he decided to create a farmer's handbook. The book—Nongsa Jikseol (농사직설, 農事直說)—contained information about the different farming techniques that were gathered by scientists from different regions of Korea.^[25] These techniques were needed in order to maintain the newly adopted methods of intensive and continuous cultivation.^[25]

One of his close associates was the great inventor Jang Yeong-sil (장영실, 蔣英實). As a young person, Jang was a naturally creative and smart thinker. Sejong noticed his skill and immediately called him to his court in Hanseong. Upon giving Jang a government position and funding for his inventions, officials protested, believing a person from the lower classes should not rise to power among nobles. Sejong instead believed he merited support because of his ability. Jang Yeong-sil created new significant designs for water clocks, armillary spheres, and sundials.^[26]

In 1442, Jang Yeong-sil made one of the world's first standardized rain gauges named Cheugugi.^[27] This model has not survived, with the oldest existing Korean rain gauge being made in 1770, during the reign of King Yeongjo. According to the Daily Records of the Royal Secretariat (승정원일기, 承政院日記), Yeongjo wanted to revive the glorious times of King Sejong the Great, and so he read chronicles from that era. When he came across the mention of a rain gauge, Yeongjo ordered a reproduction. Since there is a mark of the Qing dynasty ruler Qianlong (r. 1735–96), dated 1770,^[28] this Korean-designed rain gauge is sometimes misunderstood as having been imported from China.

In 1434, Jang Yeong-sil, tasked by King Sejong, invented the Gabinja (갑인자, 甲寅字), a new type of printing press. This printing press was said to be twice as fast as the previous model and was composed of copper-zinc and lead-tin alloys.^[29]

 

Korean celestial globe first made by the scientist Jang Yeong-sil during the reign of King Sejong

Sejong also wanted to reform the Korean calendar system, which was at the time based upon the longitude of the Chinese capital.^[25] He had his astronomers create a calendar with the Joseon capital of Hanseong as the primary meridian.^[25] This new system allowed Joseon astronomers to accurately predict the timing of solar and lunar eclipses.^[25]

In the realm of traditional Korean medicine, two important treatises were written during his reign. These were the Hyangyak Jipseongbang and the Euibang Yuchwi, which historian Kim Yong-sik says represents "the Koreans' efforts to develop their own system of medical knowledge, distinct from that of China".^[25]

Public welfare

In 1426, Sejong enacted a law that granted government nobi (slave) women 100 days of maternity leave after childbirth, which, in 1430, was lengthened by one month before childbirth. In 1434, he also granted the husbands 30 days of paternity leave.^[30]

In order to provide equality and fairness in taxation for the common people, Sejong issued a royal decree to administer a nationwide public opinion poll regarding a new tax system called Gongbeop in 1430. Over the course of five months, the poll surveyed 172,806 people, of which approximately 57% responded with approval for the proposed reform.^[31][32]

Joseon's economy depended on the agricultural output of the farmers, so Sejong allowed them to pay more or less tax according to the fluctuations of economic prosperity and hard times.^[33] Because of this, farmers could worry less about tax quotas and instead work at maintaining and selling their crops.

It is said that once, when the palace had a significant surplus of food, the king distributed it to poor peasants who needed it.^{[citation needed]}

Literature

In 1429, Nongsa Jikseol ("Explanations of Agriculture"; 농사직설, 農事直說) was compiled. It was the first book about Korean farming, dealing with agricultural subjects such as planting, harvesting, and soil treatment.

Sejong was also a writer. He composed the famous Yongbieocheonga ("Songs of Flying Dragons"; 1445), Seokbo Sangjeol ("Episodes from the Life of Buddha"; July 1447), Worin Cheongang Jigok ("Songs of the Moon Shining on a Thousand Rivers"; July 1447), and Dongguk Jeongun ("Dictionary of Proper Sino-Korean Pronunciation"; September 1447).

Arts

One of Sejong’s closest friends and mentors was the 15th century musician Park Yeon. Together they composed over two hundred musical arrangements. Sejong’s independent musical compositions include the Chongdaeop ("Great Achievements"), Potaepyeong ("Preservation of Peace"), Pongnaeui ("Phoenix"), and Yominrak ("A Joy to Share with the People"). Yominrak continues to be a standard piece played by modern traditional Korean orchestras, while Chongdaeop and Potaepyeong are played during the Jongmyo Jerye (memorials honoring the kings of the Joseon dynasty).^[34]

In 1418, during Sejong's reign, scholars developed the Pyeongyeong (편경, 編磬), a lithophone modeled off of the Chinese Bianqing. The Pyeongyeong is a percussion instrument consisting of two rows of 8 pumice slabs hung on a decorative wooden frame with a 16-tone range and struck with an ox horn mallet. It was manufactured using pumice mined from the Gyeonggi Province and was primarily used for ceremonies.^[35][36]

Hangul

See also: Hunminjeongeum and Hangul

 

Hunminjeongeum

King Sejong profoundly affected Korea's history with the creation and introduction of hangul, the native phonetic writing system for the Korean language.^[2][37] Although it is widely assumed that he ordered the Hall of Worthies to invent the script, contemporary records such as the Veritable Records of King Sejong and Jeong In-ji's preface to the Hunminjeongeum Haerye emphasize that Sejong invented it himself.^[38]

Before the creation of the new letters, people in the country primarily wrote using Classical Chinese alongside phonetic writing systems based on Chinese script that predated hangul by hundreds of years, including idu, hyangchal, gugyeol, and gakpil.^{[39][40][41][42]} However, due to the fundamental differences between the Korean and Chinese languages,^[43] and the large number of characters that needed to be studied, the lower classes, who often lacked the privilege of education, had much difficulty in learning how to write. To assuage this problem, King Sejong created this unique alphabet (which numbered 28 letters at its introduction, of which four letters have become obsolete) to promote literacy among the common people.^[44] Each consonant letter is based on a simplified diagram of the patterns made by the human speech organs (the mouth, tongue and teeth) when producing the sound related to the character, while vowels were formed by combinations of dots and lines representing heaven (a circular dot), earth (a horizontal line) and humanity (a vertical line). Morphemes are built by writing the characters in syllabic blocks. The blocks of letters are then strung together linearly.

Hangul was completed in 1443 and published in 1446 along with a 33-page manual titled Hunminjeongeum, explaining what the letters are as well as the philosophical theories and motives behind them.^[45] The manual purported that anyone could learn the alphabet in a matter of days. People previously unfamiliar with it can typically pronounce Korean words accurately after only a few hours of study.

King Sejong faced backlash from the noble class as many disapproved of the idea of a common writing system, with some openly opposing its creation. Many within the nobility believed that giving the peasants the ability to read and write would allow them to find and abuse loopholes within the law. Others felt that hangul would threaten their families’ positions in court by creating a larger pool of civil servants. The Joseon elite continued to use the Chinese hanja long after Sejong’s death.^[46] Hangul was often treated with contempt by those in power and received criticism in the form of nicknames, including eonmun ("vulgar script"), amkeul ("women’s script"), and ahaekkeul ("children’s script"). Despite this, the system gained popularity among women and fiction writers.

In 1504, the study and publication of hangul was banned by Yeonsangun.^[47] Its spread and preservation can be largely attributed to three main factors: books published for women, its use by Buddhist monks,^[48] and the introduction of Christianity in Korea in 1602.^[49] Hangul was brought into the mainstream culture in the 16th century, due to a renaissance in literature and poetry. It continued to gain popularity well into the 17th century, and gained wider use after a period of nationalism in the 19th century. In 1849, it was adopted as Korea’s national writing system, and saw its first use in official government documents. After the Treaty of 1910, hangul was outlawed again until the liberation of Korea in 1945.^[50][51]

Death

 

The tomb of Sejong the Great

Sejong was blinded by diabetes complications that eventually took his life in 1450.^[52] He was buried at Yeongneung (영릉, 英陵), in the same mound as his wife, Queen Soheon, who died four years earlier. The tomb is located in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

His successor was his first son, Yi Hyang (posthumously honored as King Munjong). Sejong judged that the sickly Munjong was unlikely to live long, and on his deathbed asked the scholars from the Hall of Worthies to look after his young grandson, Danjong.^[53] As predicted, Munjong died two years after his ascension, and the political stability enjoyed in the past decades disintegrated when Danjong became the sixth king of Joseon at the age of twelve.^[54] Eventually, Sejong's second son, Grand Prince Suyang (later known as King Sejo), usurped the throne in 1455. When six court officials were implicated in a plot to restore his nephew, Sejo abolished the Hall of Worthies and executed Danjong along with several ministers who served during Sejong's reign.^[54][55]

Family

• Father: King Taejong of Joseon (조선 태종) (16 May 1367 – 10 May 1422)
  • Grandfather: King Taejo of Joseon (조선 태조) (11 October 1335 – 24 May 1408)
  • Grandmother: Queen Sinui of the Cheongju Han clan (신의왕후 한씨) (4 September 1337 – 23 September 1391)
• Mother: Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (원경왕후 민씨) (11 July 1365 – 10 July 1420)
  • Grandfather: Min Je, Internal Prince Yeoheung (여흥부원군 민제) (1339–1408)
  • Grandmother: Lady Song of the Yeosan Song clan, Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State (삼한국대부인 여산 송씨).(1342–1424)

Consorts and their respective issue(s):

1. Queen Soheon of the Cheongsong Shim clan (소헌왕후 심씨) (28 September 1395 – 24 March 1446)^[56][57]
   1. Princess Jeongso (정소공주) (1412 – 25 February 1424), first daughter
   2. Crown Prince Yi Hyang (왕세자 이향) (3 October 1414 – 14 May 1452), first son
   3. Princess Jeongui (정의공주) (12 July 1415 – 11 February 1477), second daughter^[58]
   4. Yi Yu, Grand Prince Suyang (수양대군 이유) (29 September 1417 – 8 September 1468), second son
   5. Yi Yong, Grand Prince Anpyeong (안평대군 이용) (19 September 1418 – 18 October 1453), third son
   6. Yi Gu, Grand Prince Imyeong (임영대군 이구) (6 January 1420 – 21 January 1469), fourth son
   7. Yi Yeo, Grand Prince Gwangpyeong (광평대군 이여) (2 May 1425 – 7 December 1444), fifth son
   8. Yi Yu, Grand Prince Geumseong (금성대군 이유) (28 March 1426 – 21 October 1457), seventh son
   9. Yi Im, Grand Prince Pyeongwon (평원대군 이임) (18 November 1427 – 16 January 1445), ninth son^[59]
   10. Yi Yeom, Grand Prince Yeongeung (영응대군 이염) (15 April 1434 – 2 February 1467), fifteenth son^[60][61]
2. Royal Noble Consort Shin of the Cheongju Gim clan (신빈 김씨) (1406 – 4 September 1464)^[62][63]
   1. Fourth daughter (? – 1426)
   2. Yi Jeung, Prince Gyeyang (계양군 이증) (12 August 1427 – 16 August 1464), eighth son^[64]
   3. Yi Gong, Prince Uichang (의창군 이공) (1428 – 27 February 1460), tenth son
   4. Fifth daughter (? – 1429)
   5. Yi Chim, Prince Milseong (밀성군 이침) (1430 – 1 January 1479), twelfth son
   6. Yi Yeon, Prince Ikhyeon (익현군 이연) (1431 – 4 May 1463), fourteenth son
   7. Yi Jang, Prince Yeonghae (영해군 이장) (20 March 1435 – 5 May 1477), seventeenth son
   8. Yi Geo, Prince Damyang (담양군 이거) (8 January 1439 – 10 March 1450), eighteenth son
3. Royal Noble Consort Hye of the Cheongju Yang clan (혜빈 양씨) (? – 9 November 1455)^[65][66]
   1. Yi Eo, Prince Hannam (한남군 이어) (8 September 1429 – 29 May 1459), eleventh son
   2. Yi Hyeon, Prince Suchun (수춘군 이현) (13 July 1431 – 5 June 1455), thirteenth son
   3. Yi Jeon, Prince Yeongpung (영풍군 이전) (17 August 1434 – 20 June 1456), sixteenth son
4. Royal Noble Consort Yeong of the Jinju Gang clan (영빈 강씨) (? – 20 January 1483)^[67]
   1. Yi Yeong, Prince Hwaui (화의군 이영) (5 September 1425 – ?), sixth son^[68]
5. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Miryang Park clan (귀인 박씨)^[69]
6. Royal Consort Gwi-in of the Jeonju Choe clan (귀인 최씨)^[70]
7. Royal Consort Sug-ui of the Jo clan (숙의 조씨)
8. Royal Consort So-yong of the Hong clan (숙용 홍씨) (? – 4 February 1452)
9. Royal Consort Sug-won of the Yi clan (숙원 이씨)^[71]
   1. Princess Jeongan (정안옹주) (1441 – 16 October 1461), seventh daughter^[72]
10. Court Lady Song (상침 송씨) (1396 – 21 August 1463)^[73]
    1. Princess Jeonghyeon (정현옹주) (1425 – 6 November 1480), third daughter^[74]
11. Court Lady Cha (사기 차씨) (? – 1444)^[75]
    1. Sixth daughter (1430 – 1431)

Issue by unknown mother(s):

1. Yi Dang (이당) (1442 – ?), nineteenth son

Ancestry

Ancestors of Sejong the Great

16. Yi Chun, King Dojo of Joseon (조선 도조 이춘) 8. Yi Ja-chun, King Hwanjo of Joseon (조선 환조 이자춘) 17. Queen Gyeongsun of the Munju Park clan (경순왕후 박씨) 4. King Taejo of Joseon (조선 태조) 18. Choe Han-gi, Internal Prince Yeongheung (영흥부원군 최한기) 9. Queen Uihye of the Yeongheung Choe clan (의혜왕후 최씨) 19. Lady Yi, Grand Princess Consort of Joseon State (조선국대부인 이씨) 2. King Taejong of Joseon (조선 태종) 20. Han Gyu-in (한규인) 10. Han Gyeong, Internal Prince Ancheon (안천부원군 한경) 5. Queen Sinui of the Cheongju Han clan (신의왕후 한씨) 22. Shin Yun-ryeo (신윤려) 11. Lady Shin of the Saknyeong Shin clan, Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State (삼한국대부인 삭녕 신씨) 1. Sejong of Joseon 24. Min Jeok (민적) 12. Min Byeon (민변) 25. Lady Won (원씨) 6. Min Je, Internal Prince Yeoheung and Duke Mundo (여흥부원군 문도공 민제) 13. Lady Song of the Yeosan Song clan (여산 송씨) 3. Queen Wongyeong of the Yeoheung Min clan (원경왕후 민씨) 14. Song Seon (송선) 7. Lady Song of the Yeosan Song clan, Grand Princess Consort of Samhan State (삼한국대부인 여산 송씨) 15. Lady Ha of the Dalseong Ha clan (달성 하씨)

Legacy

Statue and museum exhibit

Main article: Statue of King Sejong (Gwanghwamun)

In 2009, a 9.5-meter-high (31 ft) bronze statue of King Sejong was placed on a concrete pedestal on the boulevard of Gwanghwamun Square and directly in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul.^[76] The sculptor was Kim Young-won.^[77] The pedestal contains one of the several entrances to the 3,200 m² underground museum exhibit entitled "The Story of King Sejong".^[78][79] It was unveiled on Hangul Day in celebration of the 563rd anniversary of the invention of the Korean alphabet.^[80]

Namesake from Sejong

Sejong Street (Sejongno; 세종로, 世宗路) and the Sejong Centre for the Performing Arts, both located in central Seoul, are named after King Sejong.^[81]

In early 2007, the government of the Republic of Korea decided to create a special administrative district from a part of the South Chungcheong Province, near what is presently Daejeon. The district was named "Sejong Special Autonomous City".

Portrait in Korean currency

 

King Sejong the Great, as depicted on the Bank of Korea's 10,000 won banknote (Series VI).

A portrait of Sejong is featured on the 10,000 won banknote of the South Korean won, along with various scientific tools invented under his reign.

In popular culture

Television series and films

His life was depicted in the KBS historical drama The Great King, Sejong in 2008.^[82]

Television series

Year	Portrayed by	Title
1983	Han In-soo [ko]	500 Years of Joseon Dynasty: Tree with Deep Roots
1998–2000	Song Jae-ho	The King and the Queen
2008	Lee Hyun-woo	The Great King, Sejong
	Kim Sang-kyung
2011	Kang San [ko]	Deep Rooted Tree
	Song Joong-ki
	Han Suk-kyu
	Jeon Moo-song	Insu, the Queen Mother
2015	Yoon Doo-joon	Splash Splash Love
2016	Nam Da-reum	Six Flying Dragons
	Kim Sang-kyung	Jang Yeong-sil
2021	Jang Dong-yoon	Joseon Exorcist
2022	Kim Min-gi	The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won

Films

Year	Portrayed by	Title
2008	Ahn Sung-ki	The Divine Weapon
2012	Ju Ji-hoon	I Am the King
2019	Song Kang-ho	The King's Letters
	Han Suk-kyu	Forbidden Dream

Video games

• Leader of the Korean civilization in Sid Meier's Civilization VI’s Leader Pass DLC.
• Leader of the Korean civilization in Sid Meier's Civilization V.
• Leader of the Korean civilization in Civilization Revolution 2.
• King Sejong Station LE, a major tournament map in the game StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm.^{[citation needed]}
• Starting ruler of Korea in Europa Universalis IV.

See also

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sejong the Great.

• King Sejong Institute
• King Sejong Station
• Sejong Center
• Sejong City
• Sejong the Great-class destroyer
• Sejongno
• UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize
• Hunminjeongeum
• Hangul

References

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31. 오기수. "세종대왕의 조세사상과 공법 연구 : 조세법 측면에서". NAVER Academic (in Korean). NAVER Corporation. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
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40. Chen, Jiangping (18 January 2016). Multilingual Access and Services for Digital Collections. ABC-CLIO. p. 66. ISBN 9781440839559.
41. "Invest Korea Journal". 23. Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. 1 January 2005. They later devised three different systems for writing Korean with Chinese characters: Hyangchal, Gukyeol and Idu. These systems were similar to those developed later in Japan and were probably used as models by the Japanese. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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43. Hunmin Jeongeum Haerye, postface of Jeong Inji, p. 27a, translation from Gari K. Ledyard, The Korean Language Reform of 1446, p. 258
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45. Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project. Fifty Wonders of Korea Volume I: Culture and Art. 2nd ed. Seoul: Samjung Munhwasa, 2009. 28-35.
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48. ":::::::: 알고 싶은 한글 ::::::::".
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52. Lee, Gisu (11 October 2009). "세종대왕도 당뇨 망막증으로 실명?… 장기간 앓게되면 대부분 위험" [Is King Sejong also blind due to diabetic retinopathy? Most risks of prolonged illness]. 국민일보(KUKMINILBO) (in Korean). Retrieved 23 June 2023.
53. Nam, Min (29 April 2013). "[테마있는 명소] 단종① 영월 청령포ㆍ관풍헌--550년 전 단종 그 '슬픈인연' 속으로" [[Theme Attractions] Danjong ① Yeongwol Cheongnyeongpo and Gwanpungheon - Danjong 550 years ago into the "Sad Love"]. 헤럴드경제(Herald Corporation) (in Korean). Retrieved 23 June 2023.
54. Jo, Munho (10 June 2006). "역사속의 오늘-단종 폐위, 세조 즉위" [Today in History - Abolition of Danjong, King Sejo's enthronement]. 매일신문(MAEIL) (in Korean). Retrieved 23 June 2023.
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56. Daughter of Shim On, Internal Prince Cheongcheon & Duke Anhyo (청천부원군 안효공 심온) (1375 – 25 December 1418); and Lady Ahn of the Sunheung Ahn clan (순흥 안씨). Granddaughter of Shim Deok-bu (심덕부) (1328 – 1401).
57. Her paternal uncle, Shim Jong (심종, 沈悰), was the husband of Princess Gyeongseon (the youngest daughter of King Taejo and Queen Sinui).
58. Married Ahn Maeng-dam (안맹담), Prince Consort Yeonchang (연창위) (? – 1469); son of Ahn Mang-ji (안망지). Their 2 daughters eventually married the sons of Jeong In-ji and Han Hwak.
59. Married Lady Hong of the Namyang Hong clan (남양 홍씨, 南陽洪氏) (? – 1483), also known as Grand Princess Consort Gangnyeong (강녕부부인, 江寧府夫人), a maternal first cousin of Queen Sohye (popularly known as Queen Insu).
60. Married Lady Jeong of the Haeju Jeong clan (해주 정씨, 海州 鄭氏), also known as Grand Princess Consort Chunseong (춘성부부인, 春城府夫人). She was the older sister of Jeong Jong (정종, 鄭悰), Princess Gyeonghye's husband.
61. Remmaried to Lady Song of the Yeosan Song clan (여산 송씨, 礪山宋氏), also known as Grand Princess Consort Daebang (대방부부인, 帶方府夫人). She was the paternal aunt of Queen Jeongsun.
62. Daughter of Gim Won (김원).
63. Originally a slave of Naejasa Temple (내자사; 內資寺); she entered the palace as lady-in-waiting in 1418, serving under Queen Wongyeong, and later under Queen Soheon.
64. Married Lady Han of the Cheongju Han clan, also known as Princess Consort Jeongseon (정선군부인 한씨). She was Han Hwak's first daughter, making her the eldest sister of the future Queen Sohye (widely known as Queen Insu).
65. Daughter of Yang Gyeong (양경); and Lady Yi (이씨). Granddaughter of Yang Cheom-sik (양첨식) and great-granddaughter of Yang Ji-su (양지수).
66. Given the posthumous name 'Minjeong' (민정) in 1791.
67. Daughter of Gang Seok-deok (강석덕); and Lady Shim of the Cheongseong Shim clan (Shim On's second daughter and Queen Soheon's younger sister), making her Queen Soheon's niece.
68. Died after 1489.
69. Also known as 'Royal Princess Jangui' (장의궁주). The title was granted in 1424.
70. Also known as 'Royal Princess Myeongui' (명의궁주). The title was granted in 1424.
71. Died after 1490.
72. Married Shim An-ui (심안의); created Prince Consort Cheongseong (청성위).
73. Lady-in-waiting of the fifth senior rank (상침; 尙寢; sangchim). After the Grand Code for State Administration was promulgated in the late 15th century, Sangchim was downgraded from fifth senior rank (정5품) to sixth senior rank (정6품).
74. Married Yun Sa-ro (윤사로), Internal Prince Yeongcheon (영천부원군) (1423 – 1463); son of Yun Eun (윤은). Their eldest son eventually married an older sister of Queen Gonghye.
75. Lady-in-waiting of the sixth senior rank (사기; 司記; sagi). Sagi was later renamed sanggi (상기; 尙記), and downgraded from sixth senior rank (정6품) to sixth junior rank (종6품).
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Notes

1. At the time, the residence was also called the Eastern Detached Palace (동별궁; 東別宮; Dongbyeolgung); today, it is known as the Andong Detached Palace (안동별궁; 安洞別宮; Andongbyeolgung).
2. Unless otherwise noted, all dates in this article are given in the lunar calendar.

Further reading

• Kim, Yung Sik. (1998). "Problems and Possibilities in the Study of the History of Korean Science," Osiris (2nd series, Volume 13, 1998): 48–79.
• King Sejong the Great: the Light of Fifteenth Century Korea, Young-Key Kim-Renaud, International Circle of Korean Linguistics, 1992, softcover, 119 pages, ISBN 1-882177-00-2.
• Kim-Renaud, Young-Key. 2000. Sejong's theory of literacy and writing. Studies in the Linguistic Sciences 30.1:13–46.
• Gale, James Scarth. History of the Korean People Annotated and introduction by Richard Rutt. Seoul: Royal Asiatic Society, 1972.

External links

• King Sejong featured on the 10000 Korean Won banknote.

Sejong the Great House of Yi Born: 10 April 1397 Died: 17 February 1450
Regnal titles
Preceded by Taejong	King of Joseon 10 August 1418 – 17 February 1450	Succeeded by Munjong