You are misleading. Koreans have their own languages. Only the written form is drastically changed. It is not a new language.
It is more than hard and easy. Remember there is politics and culture. The disuse of Chinese character is pretty recent, post-WWII.
Recently, some Koreans suggest to pick up Chinese character in Korean. In the past, Korean culture and history are written in these characters. After a few generation, only very few people can recognise them properly. Also, Characters differentiate homonym. With characters, it would cause much confusion with numerous homonyms.
It is more than hard and easy. Remember there is politics and culture. The disuse of Chinese character is pretty recent, post-WWII.
Recently, some Koreans suggest to pick up Chinese character in Korean. In the past, Korean culture and history are written in these characters. After a few generation, only very few people can recognise them properly. Also, Characters differentiate homonym. With characters, it would cause much confusion with numerous homonyms.