Romanization and Korean Name Pronunciation

Roman letters approximate Korean sounds

Romanization represents Korean sounds with the Latin alphabet. It helps international readers, but it cannot perfectly capture every Korean sound or replace the original Hangeul spelling.

One name can have more than one spelling

Personal, historical, and institutional conventions can produce different spellings for the same Korean name. For identity documents, keep the spelling consistent with the relevant official record. For a display name, state the Hangeul form alongside it when clarity matters.

Do not guess from letters alone

A Roman spelling is not always a reliable guide to Korean pronunciation. If you need to say a person's name correctly, ask them directly and respect their preferred pronunciation.