Korean Name Romanizer
Convert any Korean name to official Revised Romanization plus conventional passport spellings (Kim, Lee, Park).
- Surname
- 홍
- Given name
- 길동
Romanization
Based on the Revised Romanization of Korean (2000). Names are romanized syllable-by-syllable without sound changes. Surnames commonly use conventional spellings (Kim, Lee, Park) on passports.
What this tool does
The Korean name romanizer converts Hangul names to roman letters using the official Revised Romanization of Korean (2000). Names are romanized syllable-by-syllable without reflecting sound changes (Section 3, Article 4), and surnames also show the conventional passport spellings (Kim, Lee, Park). Get the standard spelling instantly for passports, business cards, papers, and overseas documents.
Who uses this
- Confirm the English spelling for a passport
- Write your romanized name on business cards and email signatures
- Author name on papers and overseas submissions
- Tell a foreign friend how to write your name
- English name on remittances and contracts
How to use
- 1Enter a Korean name (e.g., 홍길동). It converts instantly.
- 2Surname and given name split automatically; compound surnames (남궁, 황보) are detected.
- 3You get three forms: official, conventional surname spelling, and hyphenated. Passports usually recommend the conventional surname spelling.
Romanization principles (NIKL)
Decompose each syllable into initial/medial/final, then romanize: Initials ㄱg ㄴn ㄷd ㄹr ㅁm ㅂb ㅅs ㅇ(silent) ㅈj ㅊch ㅋk ㅌt ㅍp ㅎh ... Medials ㅏa ㅓeo ㅗo ㅜu ㅡeu ㅣi ㅐae ㅔe ... Finals ㄱk ㄴn ㄹl ㅁm ㅂp ㅇng ... Name rule: do not reflect sound changes (Sec 3, Art 4) 홍길동 = Hong + Gil + dong → Hong Gildong Conventional surname spelling: the most common passport form Kim, Lee, Park, Choi, Jung ...
Real examples
Example 1: 홍길동 → Hong Gildong
홍=Hong, 길동=Gildong. The official spelling equals the conventional one here. Syllable-by-syllable, no sound change.
Example 2: 김민수 → official Gim Minsu / conventional Kim Minsu
Officially ㄱ becomes g (Gim), but passports overwhelmingly use Kim. The tool shows both.
Example 3: Compound surname 남궁민 → Namgung Min
남궁 is auto-detected as a two-syllable surname. Surname Namgung, given name Min. Compound surnames are written together.
Frequently asked questions
Official or conventional spelling for a passport?+
Once set on a passport, it's hard to change, so decide carefully. Match your family's existing spelling (Kim, Lee) if any; for a new one, the conventional spelling is safe. The ministry recommends the standard but allows conventional spellings.
Do I hyphenate between given-name syllables?+
Passports allow either joined (Gildong) or hyphenated (Gil-dong). Be consistent once chosen. Joined spelling avoids being misread as two separate words abroad.
Why don't names reflect sound changes?+
The rule deliberately ignores phonetic changes in names to prevent confusion and identity mismatch. Each syllable is spelled consistently letter-by-letter.
How were the conventional surname spellings established?+
They're the majority spellings entrenched through decades of passport and overseas use. 90%+ of Kims use 'Kim'; 'Lee' dominates for the I surname. They take precedence over the official forms (Gim, I).
Are compound surnames recognized?+
Yes. Major compound surnames (남궁, 황보, 제갈, 선우, 독고, 사공, 서문, 동방) are auto-detected as two-syllable surnames. Others use the first syllable as the surname.
Same spelling for the alien registration card or visa?+
This tool is for romanizing Korean nationals' names. Foreigners use the English name on their home-country passport; transliterating into Hangul is a separate process.
Cautions
- •Based on the Revised Romanization of Korean (2000); names don't reflect sound changes.
- •Passport spelling is hard to change once set — align with family spellings.
- •Conventional surname spellings (Kim, Lee) differ from the standard but are widely accepted.
- •Special pronunciations may follow the person's preference.
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Last reviewed: 2026-05-30