Old Korean language

The Korean language is spoken by over 75 million people, primarily in South and North Korea, with significant populations in China, the United States, and Japan. While the language has a history spanning thousands of years, a standardized writing system, Hangul, was only invented in the mid-15th century.12

Information about Korean before the 15th century, known as Old Korean, is limited. Evidence comes from early transcriptions and poems from the Silla kingdom, written using Chinese characters in various ways to represent Korean sounds and meanings. The relationship of Korean to other language families, such as Altaic, is debated among linguists.1

Early Korean literature, dating back to ancient times, combined dance, music, and literature, often serving political, religious, and economic functions. Foundation myths and epics, like the legend of Tangun, the first king of Old Choson, emerged during the Bronze Age. Early songs also reflected historical changes, with "Hwangjo ka" (17 BCE) being an example of an early lyric poem.34