Free online HWP to WORD converter

Korean government offices, schools, and businesses often distribute documents as HWP files, while recipients may need Microsoft Word or Microsoft 365 for editing and review. Converting to .docx provides a more widely supported editable file for sharing and archiving.

What the HWP format is

HWP is the native document format of Hancom Hangul, also called Hanword, a word processor widely used in South Korea. Most HWP files use Hancom’s proprietary HWP 5.0 binary format; newer Hancom software can also create .hwpx, a separate XML-based format. An HWP document may contain Korean text, tables, styles, footnotes, images, equations, headers, drawings, and embedded objects.

HWP files are common in Korean public-sector forms, academic documents, contracts, invoices, and business correspondence. Microsoft Word does not reliably interpret every HWP version or Hancom-specific layout feature.

What the Word format is

For current Microsoft Word versions, “Word” usually means .docx, an XML-based format supported by Microsoft Word, Word for the web, LibreOffice Writer, and many document-management systems. The older .doc format is a legacy binary format retained for compatibility with older software.

.docx is normally the better target because it preserves editable text, styles, tables, comments, and tracked changes while typically producing smaller files than .doc. Select .doc only when the recipient’s software specifically requires it.

How to convert an HWP file

Using Hancom Office

1. Open the file in Hancom Hangul or Hancom Office.
2. Check fonts, page breaks, tables, images, footnotes, headers, and form fields before saving.
3. Choose File → Save As or the Word export command.
4. Select Word 2007–365 Document (*.docx), or the equivalent DOCX option in your version.
5. Save the file, then open the resulting .docx in Microsoft Word and check its layout.

Hancom Office generally gives the highest fidelity because it uses the original document’s native layout engine. A password-protected file requires the authorized password or permission before it can be exported.

Using 101convert.com

1. Open the HWP conversion page on 101convert.com.
2. Upload the HWP file and select Word or .docx as the output format.
3. Start the conversion and download the generated Word file.

This option runs in a browser and does not require installed office software. Do not upload confidential contracts, personal records, or regulated data unless the service’s current privacy and file-retention terms permit it.

Using LibreOffice

1. Install a current LibreOffice release and open the HWP file in Writer.
2. Choose File → Save As.
3. Select Word 2007–365 (*.docx), save the file, and confirm the format choice.
4. Open the DOCX in Microsoft Word and compare it with the source document.

LibreOffice can be a useful desktop fallback, but support varies by HWP version and document content. It is less reliable than Hancom Office for Hancom-specific objects and complex Korean layouts.

Quality and compatibility limitations

Conversion can change line wrapping, pagination, table heights, and object positions. Fonts missing from the destination computer are a frequent cause; install the source fonts when licensing permits, or replace them and recheck every page. Hancom-specific styles, equations, drawing objects, tracked revisions, form controls, and embedded files may become ordinary text, images, or unsupported objects.

HWP and HWPX are different formats, so confirm that the selected converter supports the actual extension. A file opening successfully does not prove that its layout or editable objects were preserved.

For a visually fixed reference, export a PDF from the original HWP with File → Export → PDF or the equivalent command. Use the DOCX for editing and the PDF for comparison or final distribution. Check the first and last pages, tables, footnotes, page numbers, signature areas, and any embedded content after conversion.