In the 10th and 11th centuries AD they devised three different systems for writing Korean with Chinese characters: Hyangchal (鄕札 / 향찰), Gukyeol (口訣 / 구결) and Idu (吏讀 / 이두). By the 5th century AD, the Koreans were starting to write in Classical Chinese - the earliest known example of this dates from 414 AD. It was used widely during the Chinese occupation of northern Korea from 108 BC to 313 AD. Recognised minority language in Primorsky Krai in RussianĬhinese writing has been known in Korea for over 2,000 years. Status: official language in South Korea, North Korea and Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in northeast China.Writing systems: Idu and Hyangchal (from 10th century), Gugyeol (from 11th century) Hangeul / Hanja (from 15th century).Spoken in: South Korea, North Korea, China, USA, Japan, Uzbekistan, and other countries.Native name: 한국어 (hanguk-eo) - South Korea.