How to Convert HWP Files: Complete Guide

Have you ever suddenly received an HWP file but were flustered because you didn't have Hancom Office? What if you need to check the content, convert it to PDF, PNG, TXT, etc., or even urgently edit it? You might have wondered if you needed to purchase a program. Don't worry! I'll tell you all the most affordable and efficient ways to handle HWP files. Now you don't have to wander anymore because of HWP!

Editing and Saving Possible: Conversion Included

There aren't many ways to edit and save HWP files. However, most of these methods also support conversion to other formats like PDF, PNG, and TXT, so it's good to make good use of them.

Hancom Office Hangeul

This is considered the standard for HWP file editing. However, the price can be burdensome if you only need to use it a few times. The official website prices are as follows:

For personal use: ₩99,000 (download) or ₩110,000 (USB delivery)
For business use: ₩423,500 (Hangeul single product) or ₩529,100 (Hancom Office full package)

If you want to buy it a bit cheaper, try using open markets. On sites like Auction or Gmarket, home versions are sold for around ₩91,000, and business versions with a 1-year limited license can be found for around ₩153,000.

Hancom Docs

The online version, previously serviced under the name Hancom Space, has been newly changed to Hancom Docs. The name is similar to Google Docs, but the pricing policy is different.

Even free users can find it very useful just by signing up. You can view and briefly edit HWP files, and it also supports downloading them in PDF format (other formats like PNG, TXT are not supported). However, you need to upload files to Hancom Cloud, and it's restricted to use in an internet browser. There's no clear limit on usage, but it seems sufficient for occasional use.

Paid users can also use Hancom Office for Windows or macOS. After all, it can be inconvenient to do a lot of editing work with just a web browser.

For personal use: ₩6,900/month or ₩49,000/year
For business use: ₩10,900/month or ₩99,000/year

Polaris Office

This is a universal office program developed by a Korean company. It officially supports HWP files, but some say that complex documents may not be displayed correctly. Like Hancom Docs, it also offers a web browser version, but it can be a bit unstable for occasional use if you're worried about whether HWP files sent by others will display correctly without Hancom Office. The price is not cheap either.

For personal use: ₩4,900/month or ₩55,000 for a lifetime license (Windows basis)
For business use: ₩8,800/month or ₩198,000 for a lifetime license (Windows basis)

LibreOffice

This is an open-source office program known to support HWP files, but it's not perfect. After installing and checking the latest version (25.2.3), I found that it couldn't open most files.

Viewer Programs

There are a few more programs that can open and view HWP files. However, file conversion features vary by program.

Hancom Office Viewer

This is the official free viewer provided by Hancom. You can download it from the Hancom homepage. Although it's free, it cannot be used for business purposes.

"Hancom Office Viewer" can be freely downloaded and used by individuals for non-commercial purposes. However, if a company or organization wishes to use it, it falls under the 'redistribution' act mentioned above, so please use it after receiving written approval from Hancom Inc.

MS Word Plugin

If you use MS Word, you can download and use the HwpConverter (Microsoft Word Hangeul Document Converter).

The Microsoft Word Hangeul Document Converter is a tool that allows Microsoft Word to convert and open HWP files like DOCX files.

In my experience, the layout didn't look exactly the same, but the content was sufficiently verifiable. I haven't checked it recently. Unfortunately, a macOS version is not provided.

Google Docs

There are stories that Google Docs also supports HWP files, but when I tried it myself, it didn't open. Perhaps it only supports specific types of HWP files.

Naver Whale Browser

Did you know that the Korean web browser Naver Whale also supports HWP files? You can use it conveniently as a viewer, and although it doesn't offer a built-in conversion function, you can convert to PDF using the Print feature. I haven't fully checked how perfectly it converts.

Online Viewer/Converter

Several websites offer online HWP file viewing and conversion functions.

cloudconvert.com

It's convenient because you can convert HWP files to PDF and TXT files without signing up or logging in.

However, fonts may not be displayed correctly, or line breaks and page breaks may not appear accurately, so it seems usable only for a rough check of the content. It doesn't support HWPX files.

allinpdf.com

Similarly, it provides an HWP file viewer without signup or login and claims to convert to JPG. However, it's currently not working, so I couldn't verify it.

Appzend hwpviewer

You can conveniently check HWP file content by dragging and dropping. However, image sizes or fonts are not accurately represented, and it doesn't support conversion to other formats like PDF. Uniquely, it supports downloading as a Zip file, and when you unzip it, you'll find an HTML file.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I think hwpconverter.com is the best choice for handling HWP files.

You can convert both HWP and HWPX files to PDF and open them directly in your web browser or download them.
It supports conversion not only to PDF but also to PNG and TXT files.
You can check the file content almost exactly as it is. If you find any files that look different, I would appreciate it if you let me know!

We are also preparing an API feature for those who need a large amount of conversion, so please look forward to it!

HWP Converter