Skip Navigation

Heritage Search

National Registered Cultural Heritage

Gukhan hoeeo (Korean Language Dictionary)

국한회어 ( 國漢會語 )

Heritage Search Detail
Classification National Registered Cultural Heritage
Name of Cultural Properties Gukhan hoeeo (Korean Language Dictionary)
Quantity 1 item of Geon, 1 item of Gon
Designated Date 2012.12.24
Age 1895
Address 1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul

Gukhan hoeeo, Korea’s first Korean-Chinese dictionary, was published in 1895 by Yi Jun-yeong, Jeong Hyeon, Yi Gi-yeong, Yi Myeong-seon, and Kang Jin-hui. The Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies at Seoul National University currently holds the manuscript of this book. The book, which contains 25,520 entries in total, exists in two editions, namely, the ‘Geon’ Edition (177 pages) and the ‘Gon’ Edition (187 pages). Both editions are bound on the right-hand side of the cover, but the preface and main contents are written from left to right in lateral lines. The entry words are arranged in Korean alphabetical order, and a description is given of each Korean word in Chinese characters. Various terms about new civilization and knowledge are included in the entry words, suggesting the introduction of new cultures into Korea. It is a great material for scholars of late 19th century phonology and the history of Korean language and lexicon.