Claim: South Korea's alphabet has been used since the 17th century.
Evidence: Additionally , in 1443 Hangul was invented by the Korean King Sejong the Great as an easier alternative to the complex and difficult to learn ancient Chinese writing system which was usually reserved for elite academic scholars preparing for the imperial examinations of China.
The Korean alphabet , known as Hangul in South Korea -LRB- also transcribed Hangeul -RRB- and as Chosŏn ` gŭl / Chosŏn Muntcha in North Korea is the alphabet that has been used to write the Korean language since the 15th century.