Korean Romanization
Under the official rules, 종로 is Jongno, 신라 is Silla, 같이 is gachi, and the name 홍빛나 is Hong Bitna.
How to use
- Type or paste Korean text (Hangul). Anything else, like numbers or Latin letters, is kept as it is.
- Pick a mode: General text, Place name (adds -do, -si, -gu and so on), Personal name (family name first, no sound changes in the given name) or Transliteration (spelling-based, for academic use).
- Turn on hyphens to mark syllable breaks that could be misread (Jung-ang, Ban-gudae).
- Copy the result.
How it works
Each syllable is split into its initial consonant, vowel and final consonant, then mapped with the official tables (Chapter 2 of the Revised Romanization of Korean, 2000). ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ are g, d, b before a vowel and k, t, p before a consonant or at the end of a word. ㄹ is r before a vowel and l before a consonant, and ㄹㄹ is ll.
Sound changes at syllable boundaries are written as pronounced (Chapter 3, Article 1): nasal and liquid assimilation (백마 Baengma, 종로 Jongno, 신라 Silla), palatalization (같이 gachi), aspiration (좋고 joko). Tensing is not written (압구정 Apgujeong). In nouns, h after k, t, p is kept (묵호 Mukho); switch that off for verb forms such as 잡혀 japyeo.
The tool reads spelling, not meaning, so it cannot see a hidden morpheme break. For words with an inserted n sound (학여울 Hangnyeoul) or the 신문로 Sinmunno type, type the word as it is pronounced (항녀울, 신문노) to get the official form.
Official examples
| Hangul | Romanized | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 백마 | baengma | Nasal assimilation |
| 왕십리 | wangsimni | ㄹ after ㅂ becomes n |
| 별내 | byeollae | Liquid assimilation |
| 해돋이 | haedoji | Palatalization |
| 놓다 | nota | Aspiration |
| 집현전 | jiphyeonjeon | h kept in nouns |
| 낙동강 | nakdonggang | Tensing not written |
| 광희문 | gwanghuimun | ㅢ is always ui |
Sources: NIKL: Romanization of Korean (2000)Last reviewed 2026-10-18
FAQ
Why does it give Gim, I and Bak, not Kim, Lee and Park?
The 2000 rules leave family names to a separate standard that was never issued, so the tool applies the general rules. Kim, Lee and Park are the customary spellings most people use in passports, and you can keep a spelling you already use (Article 7).
What is the difference between romanization and transliteration?
Romanization follows pronunciation (같이 gachi). Transliteration follows spelling letter by letter so the Hangul can be restored (같이 gat-i). The official rules allow it only for special fields such as academic papers.
Are spaces kept?
Yes. Sound changes are applied inside each word only, never across a space.
How are place names written?
Administrative units get a hyphen and no sound change across it: 의정부시 Uijeongbu-si, 삼죽면 Samjuk-myeon, 종로 2가 Jongno 2-ga. Natural features and landmarks are written as one word (독도 Dokdo, 남산 Namsan). Units are spotted only in Place name mode, and only for names of 3 syllables or more; for short names like 중구 type 중-구.