Korea’s Shift from HWP to More Modern Document Formats

In a significant move towards modernization, South Korea is transitioning away from the Hangul Word Processor (HWP) file format in key government document systems. This shift aims to enhance workflows and improve compatibility with evolving artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

The icon image of a HWP format file / Courtesy of Hancom

The Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS), in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is preparing to restrict the use of HWP file attachments in key public communication channels starting in May. This includes the government’s internal document platform as well as official email services.

Commencing May 18, the government plans to broaden the use of HWPX—a more open format developed for enhanced interoperability—within the On-Nara System, the document drafting and distribution platform utilized by public officials. This will also extend to local governments. By October, On-Mail, an internal communication tool for civil servants, is expected to follow suit. Both systems are overseen by the interior ministry.

The Integrated Government Mail service, managed by the culture ministry and operating under the korea.kr domain, will impose a complete ban on HWP attachments in October, following a grace period that begins in early May. This service acts as the official external email channel for civil servants engaging with the public.

The primary motivation driving this policy change is the inherent limitations of HWP files. Originally created in the late 1980s by Hancom, Hangul became the predominant word processor in Korea, especially within government sectors, thanks to its robust support for the Korean language at a time when global alternatives like Microsoft Word were less prevalent. However, over the years, the proprietary nature of HWP has restricted interoperability and complicated integration with newer technologies.

As a closed-format system, HWP poses challenges for AI technologies in terms of accessing, analyzing, and learning from embedded data. Despite recent enhancements, such as the ability for tools like ChatGPT to read HWP files, fundamental issues remain due to its restrictive architecture.

In contrast, the open-format alternative HWPX presents a transparent structure that facilitates AI-based data processing. The interior ministry is also collaborating with Hancom to enable automatic conversion of existing HWP documents to HWPX during editing or saving, ensuring a smooth transition for most users.

Importantly, this policy shift does not signify the end of the Hangul word processor itself, which continues to be widely used in Korea. Recent software updates already support HWPX, allowing users to continue their work in Hangul as they have been. This change focuses on the file format rather than the application.

NAIS Vice Chairman Im Moon-young emphasized that this initiative marks the start of broader data innovations in the public sector.

“With this move, we aim to promote ‘small but significant and fast-paced changes’ for public-sector data innovation in the AI era through close collaboration across ministries,” Im stated.

This policy direction aligns with priorities highlighted by President Lee Jae Myung, who pointed out the limitations of an HWP-centered document system for AI usage during a briefing in December 2025.

“Government documents represent valuable data assets, yet their structure often hampers machine readability,” Lee remarked at the time, emphasizing the need to enhance the AI compatibility of public data.

In conclusion, this important transition from HWP to HWPX embodies South Korea’s commitment to modernizing its governmental operations and ensuring that technological advancements can be effectively leveraged in the public sector.