Korean Dictionary
How to say "King Sejong the Great" in Korean
“King Sejong the Great” in Korean is 세종대왕 (pronounced "sejong daewang").
세종대왕
sejong daewang
Usage & Context
King Sejong the Great (1397–1450) was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty. He is most celebrated for creating the Korean alphabet Hangul in 1443. His reign saw numerous scientific and cultural achievements.
Example Sentence
세종대왕은 한국에서 가장 존경받는 역사적 인물이에요.
King Sejong the Great is the most respected historical figure in Korea.
How to use 세종대왕 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “King Sejong the Great” is 세종대왕, romanized as sejong daewang.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 세종대왕.
Pronunciation Guide
For 세종 (sejong), 'se' sounds like 'say,' and 'jong' is like 'jong' in 'jongleur' but with a softer 'j' and an 'o' sound like in 'song.' For 대왕 (daewang), 'dae' is like 'day,' and 'wang' is like 'wang' in 'twang.' The stress is fairly even, with a slight emphasis on '세' (se) and '대' (dae).
More Example Sentences
Explaining Korean history or culture.
세종대왕은 한글을 창제하신 분으로 유명해요.
King Sejong the Great is famous for creating Hangul.
Describing landmarks in Seoul.
광화문 광장에 있는 세종대왕 동상은 한국의 상징 중 하나예요.
The statue of King Sejong the Great in Gwanghwamun Square is one of Korea's symbols.
A history lecture or discussion about his legacy.
세종대왕의 업적은 과학, 문화 등 여러 분야에 걸쳐 있어요.
King Sejong the Great's achievements span various fields, including science and culture.
Cultural Context
King Sejong the Great is arguably the most revered figure in Korean history. His creation of Hangul, the Korean alphabet, is celebrated annually on Hangul Day (한글날) and is a source of immense national pride. His image is on the 10,000 won banknote, and a prominent statue stands in Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. He symbolizes enlightenment, scientific advancement, and cultural flourishing, making him a constant reference point in discussions about Korean identity and achievement.
Editorial note
We review entries like 세종대왕 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
세종대왕 업적
King Sejong the Great's achievements
세종대왕 동상
King Sejong the Great's statue
세종대왕 기념관
King Sejong the Great Memorial Hall
Related Expressions
한글
Hangul
Korean alphabet (his greatest achievement)
조선 시대
Joseon Sidae
Joseon Dynasty (the era he reigned)
위대한 왕
widaehan wang
great king (a general description)
애민정신
aeminjeongsin
spirit of loving the people (a key aspect of his reign)
More Korean History Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice King Sejong the Great and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
