South Korea’s SmileStory Unveils World’s First
‘Universal Hangul Phonology System’ for 7,000+ Languages
WIHP meets Hangul — “Learn once, read every language”
🌏 WIHP System Concept
 |
Summary
SmileStory Inc. (CEO Sam Heum Yeon) has developed the world’s first universal system ‘WIHP (WIA International Hangul Phonology)‘ that can represent the pronunciation of all 7,000+ human languages in Korean Hangul, and announced its free, patent-free release to the world.
137 Years of Gap, One Question
In 1888, the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) was born. A revolutionary tool to transcribe every human sound in one system.
Yet for 137 years, IPA remained exclusive to linguists. Can ordinary people read /həˈloʊ/ and pronounce “hello”? Impossible.
IPA (1888) ────────────→ Only linguists can read ❌
WIHP (2025) ───────────→ 8 billion humans can read ✓
IPA → Hangul = Anyone can pronounce!
CEO Sam Heum Yeon learned about IPA just days ago. He was an ordinary person. But he asked a question nobody asked for 137 years:
“Why not convert IPA to Hangul?”
Hangul already perfectly represents sounds. Map IPA’s 250 phonemes to Hangul, and everyone can read any language’s pronunciation.
Why This Is Logically Great
Core Insight
Sounds humans can make = Finite
~200 consonants + ~50 vowels = All of IPA
↓
WIHP = All IPA → Hangul mapping
↓
7,000 languages covered!
Analogy: Just as 26 letters can write all English words, ~250 IPA symbols can represent all human pronunciations. WIHP converts these 250 to Hangul.
King Sejong’s Spirit, 600 Years to the World
WIHP inherits the spirit of King Sejong’s creation of Hangul.
| Era | Revolution |
|---|---|
| King Sejong (1443) | “Learn in the morning, read in the afternoon” Can pronounce without meaning → Gift to Koreans |
| WIHP (2025) | “Learn once, read 7,000 languages” Can pronounce without meaning → Gift to all humanity |
Same Principle, Same Revolution
What Hangul gave to Koreans, WIHP gives to all humanity
📜 King Sejong and WIHP – 600 Years of Completion
 |
User Experience: The Change This Brings
Scenario: American John learning Korean
Currently (Without WIHP):
John: How do I pronounce “감사합니다”?
→ IPA: /kam.sa.ham.ni.da/
→ “What does this even mean??” 😕 Gives up
With WIHP:
John: Types “gamsahamnida”
→ Auto-converts: “감사함니다”
→ Just read Hangul = Perfect pronunciation! ✨
Core Value
“Without learning IPA,
if you can read Hangul,
you can pronounce any language in the world”
Before: /ʃɑ̃.ze.li.ze/ → 😕❓
After: 샹젤리제 (Shang-jel-li-je) → 😊✓
Technical Status
7,000+
Languages Supported
250
IPA Phoneme Mappings
$0
Usage Cost
Developed Tools
| Tool | Platform | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome Extension | Web Browser | ✅ Complete |
| Electron Desktop App | Windows, Mac, Linux | ✅ Complete |
| Android Keyboard | Android 7.0+ | ✅ Complete |
| iOS Keyboard | iOS 14.0+ | ✅ Complete |
Connection with WIA Braille
WIHP perfectly integrates with WIA Braille (universal braille system for 7,000+ languages) released simultaneously:
All Languages → IPA → WIHP(Hangul) → WIA Braille
Ex: “Hello” → /həˈloʊ/ → 헬로우 → ⠚⠝⠐⠥⠍
Blind people can also learn any language’s pronunciation in braille through WIHP.
Hongik Ingan – Open Technology Declaration
홍익인간 (弘益人間)
“Benefit All Humanity”
4,000-year-old Korean philosophy
CEO Sam Heum Yeon:
“WIHP is technically patentable. But we deliberately chose not to patent it. Language belongs to humanity. What belongs to humanity cannot be owned.“
Our Commitments
| ✅ | Forever Free | No license fees |
| ✅ | Open Source | MIT License |
| ✅ | No Patents | Deliberately not filed |
| ✅ | Long-term Maintenance | SmileStory promise |
🌍 WIHP Connecting the World – 7,000 Languages, One Hangul
 |
Resources and Links
| Official Website | https://wiastandards.com/wihp/ |
| GitHub Repository | https://github.com/WIA-Official/WIHP |
| WIA Braille | https://wiabraille.com |
Media Contact
| Name | Dr. Sam Heum Yeon |
| Title | CEO, SmileStory Inc. / Chairman, WIA (World Certification Industry Association) |
| sam@smilestory.co.kr | |
| Phone | +82-1599-1045 |
Address
SmileStory Inc.
Innermass Magok 1st, 5F D01-511
21, Magokjungang 6-ro, Gangseo-gu
Seoul 07793, South Korea
홍익인간 – 弘益人間 – Benefit All Humanity
From South Korea to the world, with love and hope
December 22, 2025
<저작권자 ⓒ 코리안투데이(The Korean Today) 무단전재 및 재배포 금지>
