Framing Vernacular Epistles in Middle Korean Writing Practices: The Importance of the “Letters of Na Shin-geol”

This presentation examines the Letters of Na Shin-geol (ŏn'gan), vernacular epistles from circa 1490, to challenge the view of Han'gŭl's slow adoption after its 1446 promulgation. Written by a male provincial official to his wife, these letters are invaluable for Middle Korean socio-linguistic practices. Analysis of their sophisticated linguistic and epistolary conventions—such as formulaic structure and distinct phonological features—demonstrates that Han'gŭl was a fluent, functional tool for complex, everyday communication among the elite just 50 years after its invention. The letters thus push back the timeline for established vernacular practice and highlight the early existence of female literacy and agency in managing family affairs.