Final answer:
The introduction of hangul during the Choson dynasty significantly democratized literacy, making education and cultural knowledge accessible to more Koreans and fostering a stronger Korean national identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the most important effects of the introduction of hangul during the Choson dynasty was the democratization of literacy among the Korean people. Before hangul was created by King Sejong in 1446, literacy in Korea was mainly the domain of the aristocracy and the highly educated elite, who wrote in Chinese characters. Hangul was designed to represent the sounds of the Korean language more efficiently than Chinese characters, which were complex and difficult for the common people to learn.
The adoption of hangul meant that more Koreans could become literate and access education. It allowed for a broader dissemination of knowledge and culture among the population, which was previously hindered by the barrier of difficult-to-learn Chinese script. This advancement in literacy fostered a stronger sense of Korean identity and autonomy, as cultural and intellectual life could now be expressed in a truly Korean medium.