You got a .hwp file from a Korean school, office, employer, or landlord, and your computer does not know what to do with it. The fastest fix is to open it in your browser with Seoulstart's HWP viewer. You do not need to install anything.
An HWP file is a document made in Hangul (한글), a word processor from the Korean company Hancom (한글과컴퓨터). Word does not open it by default. This guide covers how to open one, edit it, turn it into PDF or Word, and send an answer back.
What are HWP and HWPX files?
| Format | Extension | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| HWP | .hwp | The native Hangul format. Hangul 2002 and later save HWP 5.0 files. |
| HWPX | .hwpx | The newer, open format. It keeps the document as XML files inside a ZIP container. |
HWPX follows Korean standard KS X 6101, also called OWPML (개방형 워드프로세서 마크업 언어). Hancom has saved .hwpx files since its HWP 2010 version.
Hancom also published older HWP 2.x and 3.x formats. Files in those old formats can fail to open. See the troubleshooting section below.
What can you do with an HWP file?
| You want to | Use |
|---|---|
| Read it | HWP viewer |
| Send or print it as a PDF | HWP to PDF |
| Edit it in Word | HWP to Word |
| Fill in a form | HWP viewer (click the page and type) |
| Send a Word file as HWP | Word to HWP |
| Turn a PDF into HWP | PDF to HWP |
How do you open an HWP file?
You have six options. The table starts with Seoulstart's own tool.
| Option | Cost | Works on | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoulstart HWP tools | Free, no sign-up | Browser on phone or computer | HWP 3 files do not open. 100 MB limit. |
| Hancom Office Viewer | Free for personal, non-commercial use | Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, iPad | Windows version shows ads and lists Windows 11 or later |
| Hancom Docs | Free plan or paid plans (see Hancom's page) | Web, plus a mobile app and some paid-plan desktop features (see Hancom's plans page) | Free plan limits are on Hancom's page |
| ONLYOFFICE Docs 8.3 or later | See ONLYOFFICE's site | Depends on your setup | Editing converts the file and formatting can shift |
| LibreOffice with H2Orestart | LibreOffice and the extension are both free software | Windows, Mac, Linux | Community extension. Needs Java 8 or later. Saves only as ODT. |
| Microsoft Word converter | Download from Microsoft | Word 2007 to 2013 (see Microsoft's page for Windows versions) | Microsoft does not list newer Word or Mac |
Seoulstart's browser tools
The HWP viewer opens HWP files from Hangul 2002 and later, HWPX files, PDF files, and Word .docx files. It runs in your browser. Your file is not sent to Seoulstart or to anyone else.
There is no sign-up, no watermark, and no limit on the number of files. The size limit is 100 MB. The first time you use it, your browser downloads about 4 MB of converter code.
The tool reads the file itself, not its name. A file named .hwp that is really .hwpx still opens.
The viewer shows the pages the way Hangul lays them out. The preview uses fonts on your device, so the lettering can look a little different from Hangul. You can then save a copy as PDF, Word, JPG, PNG, or text.
Files from Hangul 97 and earlier (HWP 3 and older formats) do not open in this tool.
Hancom Office Viewer
Hancom Office Viewer (한컴오피스 뷰어) is Hancom's own viewer. Hancom's product page says anyone can use it free of charge for personal, non-commercial use. Companies and organizations need written approval from Hancom.
Hancom's download page lists one Windows viewer. It says the operating system must be Windows 11 or later, and that ads appear on screen while you use it. The product page also lists downloads for Mac, Android, and iOS.
On iPhone and iPad, the App Store app is Hancom Office Viewer (한컴오피스 Viewer). It is free and opens .hwp and .hwpx files. On Android, Hancom's page for Hancom Office for Android says it opens .hwp and .hwpx files and can save as HWP, HWPX, or PDF.
Hancom Docs
Hancom Docs (한컴독스) is Hancom's web-based office service. It has a free plan with 2 GB of storage, a personal plan, and a business plan. Prices are on Hancom's page. Personal plans are for personal use. An organization needs the business plan.
ONLYOFFICE
ONLYOFFICE Docs 8.3, released in February 2025, added support for opening .hwp and .hwpx files. When you edit, ONLYOFFICE converts the file to a Word-type format (OOXML). ONLYOFFICE says full formatting match is not guaranteed.
LibreOffice
LibreOffice has no reliable built-in support for current HWP files. LibreOffice's own documentation says its old filter was written for an older version of the format and can corrupt newer files.
H2Orestart, a community extension listed on the LibreOffice Extensions site and published on GitHub by ebandal, adds .hwp and .hwpx support. It needs Java (JRE 8 or later) and can save only as ODT. If you are unsure, use a viewer instead.
Microsoft Word
Word does not open HWP files by itself. Microsoft's Hanword (HWP) converter lets Word open them as .docx files. Its download page lists Word 2007 SP2, 2010, and 2013.
Microsoft does not list newer versions of Word or Word for Mac. If you use those, convert the file with HWP to Word first.
How do you convert an HWP file to PDF or Word?
Open HWP to PDF or HWP to Word, choose your file, and select the convert button. The file saves to your downloads folder.
- PDF keeps page size, tables, images, and page breaks. Seoulstart's PDF uses Nanum Myeongjo and Nanum Gothic in place of Hancom fonts. Text stays searchable and copyable.
- Word (.docx) gives you text you can edit. Hancom fonts become Batang or Malgun Gothic. Headers, footers, page numbers, and footnotes do not carry over, and text boxes may move. For an exact copy of the layout, use PDF.
Seoulstart's tools also save HWP pages as JPG or PNG images.
How do you edit or fill in an HWP form?
Open the file in the HWP viewer, click the page, and type. You can fill in the blanks on a form, fix a typo, or add lines, and the form's tables stay in place.
Save the result as PDF, Word, JPG, PNG, or text. If you need bold, colors, or new tables, open the file in Hangul or convert it to Word and edit it there.
How do you send an HWP file back?
First, ask the office what format it wants. Do not assume PDF is accepted. Each school, employer, or landlord decides.
- They want HWP. Write in Word, then use Word to HWP. It takes .docx files only. Underline, Word colors, and exact fonts are not kept, and the file uses Hangul's default font. Open the result in Hangul and check it before you send it.
- They sent a PDF and want it back as HWP. Use PDF to HWP. Choose Editable text for letters and forms. Choose Exact look for scans, where each page becomes a picture.
- They want HWPX. Use the HWP to HWPX tool and check the preview of the result.
Why do you see more .hwpx files now?
Korean press reported in April 2026 that the government plans to promote HWPX in public-sector channels. etnews reported that the central ministries' On-Nara (온나라) document system already required HWPX. 헤럴드경제 (Herald Business) reported that from May 18, 2026, the central and local On-Nara systems accept only open-format attachments.
These reports describe rules for government bodies and their systems. They do not describe rules for what a school, landlord, or employer sends you. Many of them may still send .hwp files. These details come from news reports, not from a government announcement, so treat them as press-reported.
What if your HWP file will not open?
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| The file is HWP 3 (Hangul 97 or earlier) | Seoulstart's tools do not open it. Try Hancom Office, or ask the sender to save it again as a current .hwp. |
| The file has a password | Ask the sender for the password or a PDF. Hancom says nobody can read the file without it. |
| Seoulstart's tool says the file may be damaged or password-protected | Ask the sender for a new copy or a PDF. |
| Letters look different or the layout shifts | A missing font is a common cause. Convert to PDF for a fixed layout. |
| The file is over 100 MB | Ask the sender for a smaller file. Seoulstart's tool has a 100 MB limit. |
If a file ends in .hwpx, you can also unzip it. HWPX is a ZIP container, so the XML files and any images inside are visible.
Is it safe to use a converter website?
Do not upload private documents (leases, contracts, ID copies) to a website you do not know. Seoulstart's tools convert the file in your own browser, so nothing is sent to Seoulstart or anyone else.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open an HWP file on a Mac? Yes. Seoulstart's tools work in Safari, Chrome, and Firefox on a Mac. Hancom's product page also lists a Mac viewer download.
Can I open an HWP file on an iPhone or Android phone? Yes. Use Hancom's viewer app, or open the file in a phone browser with Seoulstart's tool. Large files take longer on a phone.
What if I only need the text? Open the file in the HWP viewer and save it as text.
What is the difference between HWP and HWPX? HWP is the older Hangul format. HWPX is the newer, open one, built from XML files inside a ZIP container.
Is Hancom Office Viewer free? It is free for personal, non-commercial use. Organizations need approval from Hancom.
What if the file needs a password? Ask the sender. Hancom describes no way to open a protected file without its password.