Created in 1989 through the generosity of the Government of the Republic of Korea, the UNESCO King Sejong Prize which consists of two awards, compensates the work of governments, governmental agencies, and NGOs who are particularly effective in the fight for literacy. The Prize gives special consideration to the promotion of mother-tongue languages in developing countries.

This Prize is named in honour of King Sejong whose outstanding contribution to literacy was the creation of the native Korean alphabet ‘Hangul’ over 500 years ago.

Each of the two awards consists of a sum of US$20,000, a silver medal and a certificate.