Revised Romanization of Korean () is the official
Korean language romanization system in
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...
. It was developed by the
National Academy of the Korean Language from 1995 and was released to the public on 7 July 2000 by South Korea's
Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Proclamation No. 2000-8.
The new system addressed problems in the implementation of the
McCune–Reischauer system, such as the phenomena where different consonants and vowels became indistinguishable in the absence of special symbols. To be specific, under the McCune–Reischauer system, Korean consonants ''(k)'', ''(t)'', ''(p)'' and ''(ch)'' and ''(kʼ)'', ''(tʼ)'', ''(pʼ)'' and ''(chʼ)'' became indistinguishable when the
apostrophe was removed. In addition, Korean vowels ''(ŏ)'' and ''(o)'', as well as ''(ŭ)'' and ''(u)'', became indistinguishable when the
breve
A breve (, less often , neuter form of the Latin "short, brief") is the diacritic mark ˘, shaped like the bottom half of a circle. As used in Ancient Greek, it is also called , . It resembles the caron (the wedge or in Czech, in S ...
was removed. Especially in internet use, where omission of apostrophes and breves is common, this caused many Koreans as well as foreigners confusion. Hence, the revision was made with the belief that if McCune–Reischauer was left unrevised, it would continue to confuse people, both Koreans and foreigners.
Features
These are notable features of the Revised Romanization system:
* The
aspiration distinction between consonants is represented in a new way. The unaspirated consonants are represented as ⟨g⟩ ⟨d⟩ ⟨b⟩ ⟨j⟩ respectively and the aspirated consonants are represented as ⟨k⟩ ⟨t⟩ ⟨p⟩ ⟨ch⟩. These letter pairs have a similar aspiration distinction in English at the beginning of a syllable (though they also have a
voicing distinction unlike Korean); this approach is also used by
Hanyu Pinyin. By contrast, the
McCune–Reischauer system uses ⟨k⟩ ⟨t⟩ ⟨p⟩ ⟨ch⟩ both for the unaspirated and aspirated consonants, adding an apostrophe for the aspirated versions (⟨kʼ⟩ ⟨tʼ⟩ ⟨pʼ⟩ ⟨chʼ⟩). (The McCune–Reischauer system also includes voicing, which the revised romanization does not.)
** However, are not always romanized as ⟨g⟩ ⟨d⟩ ⟨b⟩ ⟨j⟩, depending on their environment. For example, they are romanized as ⟨k⟩ ⟨t⟩ ⟨p⟩ ⟨ch⟩ when placed in the final position, as they are neutralized to
unreleased stops: → ''byeok'', → ''bak'', → ''bueok'', → ''byeoge'', → ''bakke'', → ''bueoke'', → keop.
* Vowels and are written as ⟨eo⟩ and ⟨eu⟩ respectively, replacing the ⟨ŏ⟩ and ⟨ŭ⟩ of the
McCune–Reischauer system.
** However, is written as ⟨wo⟩ (not ⟨weo⟩) and is written as ⟨ui⟩ (not ⟨eui⟩)
* ㅅ used to be written as sh and s, depending on context. Now it will be written as s in all cases.
** is written as ⟨s⟩ regardless of the following vowels and semivowels; there is no ⟨sh⟩: → ''sa'', → ''si''.
** When followed by another consonant or when in final position, it is written as ⟨t⟩: → ''ot'' (but → ''ose'').
* is ⟨r⟩ before a vowel or a semivowel and ⟨l⟩ everywhere else: → ''rieul'', → ''Cheorwon'', → ''
Ulleungdo'', → ''
Balhae''. Like in McCune–Reischauer, is written ⟨l⟩ whenever pronounced as a
lateral
Lateral is a geometric term of location which may refer to:
Healthcare
*Lateral (anatomy), an anatomical direction
* Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle
* Lateral release (surgery), a surgical procedure on the side of a kneecap
Phonetics
*Lateral co ...
rather than as a
nasal consonant: → ''
Jeollabuk-do''
In addition, special provisions are for regular phonological rules in exceptions to transliteration (see
Korean phonology
This article is a technical description of the phonetics and phonology of Korean. Unless otherwise noted, statements in this article refer to South Korean standard language based on the Seoul dialect.
Morphophonemes are written inside d ...
).
Other rules and recommendations include the following:
* A
hyphen
The hyphen is a punctuation mark used to join words and to separate syllables of a single word. The use of hyphens is called hyphenation. ''Son-in-law'' is an example of a hyphenated word. The hyphen is sometimes confused with dashes ( figure ...
optionally disambiguates syllables: → ''ga-eul'' (fall; autumn) versus → ''gae-ul'' (stream). However, few official publications make use of this provision since actual instances of ambiguity among names are rare.
** A hyphen must be used in linguistic transliterations to denote syllable-initial except at the beginning of a word: → ''eobs-eoss-seumnida'', → ''oegug-eo'', → ''
Ae-ogae''
* It is permitted to hyphenate syllables in the
given name
A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...
, following common practice. Certain phonological changes, ordinarily indicated in other contexts, are ignored in names, for better disambiguating between names: → ''Gang Hongrip'' or ''
Gang Hong-rip'' (not *''Hongnip''), → ''Han Boknam'' or ''Han Bok-nam'' (not *''Bongnam'' or "Bong-nam")
* Administrative units (such as the ''
do'') are hyphenated from the placename proper: → ''
Gangwon-do''
** One may omit terms such as : → ''
Pyeongchang-gun'' or ''Pyeongchang'', → ''Pyeongchang-eup'' or ''Pyeongchang''.
* However, names for geographic features and artificial structures are not hyphenated: → ''
Seoraksan
Seoraksan is the highest mountain in the Taebaek mountain range in the Gangwon Province in eastern South Korea. It is located in a national park near the city of Sokcho. After the Hallasan volcano on Jeju Island and Jirisan in the south, Se ...
'', → ''
Haeinsa
Haeinsa (해인사, 海印寺: Temple of the Ocean Mudra) is a head temple of the Jogye Order (대한불교조계종, 大韓佛敎 曹溪宗) of Korean Seon Buddhism in Gayasan National Park (가야산, 伽倻山), South Gyeongsang Province, ...
''
*
Proper noun
A proper noun is a noun that identifies a single entity and is used to refer to that entity (''Africa'', ''Jupiter'', '' Sarah'', ''Microsoft)'' as distinguished from a common noun, which is a noun that refers to a class of entities (''continent, ...
s are capitalized.
Usage
In South Korea
![Q246638 Bucheon A01 (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Q246638_Bucheon_A01_%28cropped%29.JPG)
Almost all road signs, names of railway and subway stations on line maps and signs, etc. have been changed according to Revised Romanization of Korean (''RR'', also called ''South Korean'' or ''Ministry of Culture (MC) 2000''). It is estimated to have cost at least 500 billion won to 600 billion won (US$500~600 million) to carry out this procedure. All Korean textbooks, maps and signs to do with cultural heritage were required to comply with the new system by 28 February 2002. Romanization of surnames and existing companies' names has been left untouched because of the reasons explained below. However, the Korean government encourages using the revised romanization of Korean for the new names.
Exceptions
Like several
European languages
Most languages of Europe belong to the Indo-European language family. Out of a total European population of 744 million as of 2018, some 94% are native speakers of an Indo-European language. Within Indo-European, the three largest phyla are Ro ...
that have undergone spelling reforms (such as
Portuguese
Portuguese may refer to:
* anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal
** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods
** Portuguese language, a Romance language
*** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language
** Portu ...
,
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
** Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
or
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
), the Revised Romanization is not expected to be adopted as the official romanization of
Korean family names. This is because the conditions for allowing changes in romanization of surnames in passport is very strict. The reasons are outlined below.
1. Countries around the world manage information about foreigners who are harmful to the public safety of their countries, including international criminals and illegal immigrants by the Roman name and date of birth of the passport they have used in the past. If a passport holder is free to change their listed Roman name, it would pose a serious risk to border management due to difficulty in determining identities.
2. The people of a country where it is free to change the official Roman name will be subject to strict immigration checks, which will inevitably cause inconvenience to the people of that country.
3. Arbitrary changes in the romanization of passports can lead to a fall in the credibility of the passports and national credit, which can have a negative impact on new visa waiver agreements, etc.
With very few exceptions, it is impossible for a person who has ever left the country under their romanized name to change their family name again. However, South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism encourages those who “newly” register their romanized names to follow the Revised Romanization of Korean. In addition, North Korea continues to use a version of the McCune–Reischauer system of romanization, a different version of which was in official use in South Korea from 1984 to 2000.
Outside Korea
Textbooks and dictionaries intended for students of the Korean language tend to include this Romanization. However, some publishers have acknowledged the difficulties or confusion it can cause for non-native Korean speakers who are unused to the conventions of this style of Romanization.
[Tuttle Publishing: "In addition, easy-to-use phonetic spellings of all Korean words and phrases are given. For example, “How are you?”—annyeonghaseyo? is also written as anh-nyawng-hah-seyo?", blurb for two Korean phrasebooks:]
''Making Out in Korean''
an
''More Making Out in Korean''
. All accessed 2 March 2016.
Transcription rules
Vowel letters
Consonant letters
, , and are transcribed as ''g'', ''d'', ''b'' and ''r'' when placed at the initial of a word or before a vowel, and as ''k'', ''t'', ''p'' and ''l'' when followed by another consonant or when appearing at the end of a word.
Special provisions
The revised romanization transcribes certain phonetic changes that occur with combinations of the ending consonant of a character and the initial consonant of the next like ''Hanguk'' → ''Hangugeo''. These significant changes occur (highlighted in yellow):
Phonetic changes between syllables in given names are not transcribed: → ''Jeong Seokmin'' or ''Jeong Seok-min'', → ''Choe Bitna'' or ''Choe Bit-na''.
Phonological changes are reflected where , , and are adjacent to : → ''joko'', → ''nota'', → ''japyeo'', 낳지 → ''nachi''. However, aspirated sounds are not reflected in case of nouns where follows , and : → ''
Mukho'', → ''
Jiphyeonjeon
The Hall of Worthies, or Jiphyeonjeon (; ), was a royal research institute set up by Sejong the Great of the Korean Joseon Dynasty in March 1420. Set up during the beginning of his reign, King Sejong staffed the Hall of Worthies with talented sc ...
''.
See also
*
Romanization of Korean
Romanization of Korean refers to systems for representing the Korean language in the Latin script. Korea's alphabetic script, called Hangul, has historically been used in conjunction with Hanja (Chinese characters), though such practice has bec ...
* Korean Pronunciation,
Help:IPA/Korean
References
External links
Romanization of Koreanfrom the National Institute of Korean Language
Korean Romanization Converterby Pusan National University
*
ttp://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20130310000236 Culture Ministry sets guideline for Romanizing Korean names
{{DEFAULTSORT:Revised Romanization Of Korean
Romanization of Korean
ISO standards
2000 establishments in South Korea
2000 introductions