His Majesty King Sejong the Great: Legendary Ruler of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, Part 2 of 2

For the first time in Korean history, His Majesty Sejong began holding banquets in every province to honor the elderly, without regard to class or status. In the Royal Palace, King Sejong dined with them in person. In the midst of one of these banquets, a voice rang out: “This year I am 88, and of all the Kings I have lived under, none has treated the elderly with such respect as You have done today.”

King Sejong believed that the law’s primary objective is to protect the people, that it should be founded on compassion and morality. Therefore, He ordered the law to be made known and published throughout the nation. As the King said, “[It] is right to allow the people to know the law, so that they may be careful to avoid violating it.” He also ensured that people would have the right to appeal against any unjust decisions.

King Sejong’s first request of Jang Yeong-sil was for him to create a celestial globe, which led to the completion of the Armillary Sphere in 1433. This innovative instrument facilitated Korean astronomers’ comprehension of celestial movements, observing stars, planets, and other bodies, and compiling calculations for the seven heavenly objects, or the five visible planets, the Sun, and Moon. Jang Yeong-sil’s work resulted in an astronomical calendar that enabled precise predictions of solar and lunar eclipses, marking a significant advancement for Joseon astronomers.

In 1443, King Sejong and a special team of eight advisers privately created Hangul, a 28-character alphabetical system that the people could easily learn. Capable of accurately representing Korean sounds and linguistic structure, the creation of Hangul was based on the shape of the mouth and a simple writing system. Hangul, the Korean alphabet, proved to be among the greatest cultural Korean icons of all time. It is also considered King Sejong’s crowning achievement.

Over 350 new books were published during King Sejong’s reign, covering a wide range of subjects that included history, politics, literature, linguistics, geography, law, philosophy, agriculture, medicine, astronomy, and music.

The most beloved King Sejong passed away at the age of 53, in 1450. His Majesty King Sejong was the quintessential altruist who loved and guided His people with great humility and wisdom. The spirit of King Sejong is the spirit of One Korea, undivided and united, for the benefit of all.