In the end, the joke was on him, however, because there was a reporter hiding in the bushes, and that’s why we even know about this story today!
But we’ll just focus on one person today: King Sejong the Great. As stated before, Korea has a long history of being oppressed and subjegated by Japan. But China also controlled this country in the past. For instance, under foreign occupation, only nobles could work in the palace and pursue education, while peasants might have to go into slavery in China just to be able to eat during the winters but later found themselves unable to return. Korea, or as it was called in the 14th century, Joseon, didn’t have a written language; instead, they borrowed the Chinese language and mixed it with their own for a unique writing system. King Sejong saw this system as a key to liberating his people. He created the Korean writing system that we use now and made sure that it was taught to everyone, regardless of their class. The king also practiced democracy by polling citizens on issues relating to legislation, and he granted paid maternity and paternity leave. All of this almost five hundred years ago!
The Joseon period of Korea (1392-1910) is most well known for its infamous kings and intricate politics between Korea, Japan, China and Mongolia. During this time, Korea was seen as small and insignificant; however, this period left a long legacy that we see even now. Much of modern culture, etiquette, norms, and societal attitudes towards current issues and politics are rooted in the ideals of the Joseon time period. One of my favorite things to come out of this period was the Hanbok.
