The Romanization of Korean

1. Basic Principles of Romanization

(1) Romanization is based on standard Korean pronunciation.

(2) Symbols other than Roman letters are avoided to the greatest extent possible.

2. Summary of the Romanization System

(1) Vowels are transcribed as follows:

- simple vowels

 

ㅏ	ㅓ	ㅗ	ㅜ	ㅡ	ㅣ	ㅐ	ㅔ	ㅚ	ㅟ
a	eo	o	u	eu	i	ae	e	oe	wi

- diphthongs

 

ㅑ	ㅕ	ㅛ	ㅠ	ㅒ	ㅖ	ㅘ	ㅙ	ㅝ	ㅞ	ㅢ
ya	yeo	yo	yu	yae	ye	wa	wae	wo	we	ui

Note 1: ㅢ is transcribed as ui, even when pronounced as ㅣ.

Note 2: Long vowels are not reflected in Romanization.

(2) Consonants are transcribed as follows:

- plosives(stops)

 

ㄱ	ㄲ	ㅋ	ㄷ	ㄸ	ㅌ	ㅂ	ㅃ	ㅍ
g, k	kk	k	d, t	tt	t	b, p	pp	p

- affricates

 

ㅈ	ㅉ	ㅊ
j	jj	ch

- fricatives

 

ㅅ	ㅆ	ㅎ
s	ss	h

- nasals

 

ㄴ	ㅁ	ㅇ
n	m	ng

- liquids

 

ㄹ

r, l

Note 1 : The sounds ㄱ, ㄷ, and ㅂ are transcribed respectively as g, d, and b when they appear before a vowel; they are transcribed as k, t, and p when followed by another consonant or form the final sound of a word.(They are Romanized as pronunciation in [ ].)

e.g. 구미 Gumi         영동 Yeongdong    백암 Baegam

      옥천 Okcheon    합덕 Hapdeok       호법 Hobeop

      월곶[월곧] Wolgot             벚꽃[벋꼳] beotkkot

      한밭[한받] Hanbat

Note 2 :ㄹ is transcribed as r when followed by a vowel, and as l when followed by a consonant or when appearing at the end of a word. ㄹㄹ is transcribed as ll.

e.g. 구리 Guri     설악 Seorak       칠곡 Chilgok

      임실 Imsil     울릉 Ulleung      대관령[대괄령] Daegwallyeong

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