Statue of King Sejong

Seated before you is Sejong the Great, fourth king of the Joseon dynasty, who reigned from 1418 to 1450. He is probably the best-loved figure in Korean history: his face is on the 10,000-won note and his name is on the avenue beneath your feet.

1An alphabet for everyone

In Sejong's day, Korea's written language was classical Chinese, mastered only by a small educated elite. The king championed a new system, designed so that anyone could learn it in a matter of days. It was completed in 1443 and promulgated in 1446 under the name Hunminjeongeum, "the correct sounds for the instruction of the people". It had 28 letters whose shapes, according to the original explanatory text, imitate the position of the mouth and tongue when speaking.

There was resistance: some officials saw it as a break with Chinese culture. Hangul, as it is called today, took centuries to win out, but it became the script of the whole nation. Hangul Day, 9 October, is a public holiday.

2Science at court

Sejong also surrounded himself with scholars and inventors such as Jang Yeong-sil. His reign produced water clocks, sundials and rain gauges that measured rainfall across the kingdom.

The statue, about six metres tall and the work of Kim Young-won, was unveiled on 9 October 2009, Hangul Day.

3What to look for

• The open book in his hand, inscribed in Hangul.
• The replicas of the rain gauge, celestial globe and sundial in front of the pedestal.
• The entrance to the underground museum devoted to the king, behind the statue.