Hangul is the unique alphabet used by Koreans. In 1443, it was created by King Sejong the Great under the name of Hunminjeongeum. Hunminjeongeum means the proper sounds for the instruction of the people. The alphabet was made easy for anyone to learn. A total of 28 letters were created, including the 17 consonants modeled after the body parts that make sounds (mouth, tongue, inside the mouth, and throat), and the 11 vowels imitating the shape of the sky, earth and human. Currently, only 24 letters are being used, including 14 consonants and 10 vowels. Hangul was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.