North Korean Romanization: Rules of the Latin Alphabetical Transcriptions of the Korean Language
The Rules of the Latin Alphabetical Transcriptions of the Korean Language serve as the official system for romanizing the Korean language in North Korea. Established by the Academy of Social Sciences (Sahoe Kwahagwŏn), this system is an adaptation of the older McCune–Reischauer system. While it officially replaced the previous system in 1992, it has since undergone updates in 2002 and 2012 to refine its accuracy and application.
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Key Facts
- Official Status: The standard romanization system used in North Korea.
- Origin: An adaptation of the McCune–Reischauer system.
- Timeline: Introduced in 1992, with subsequent updates in 2002 and 2012.
- Governing Body: The Academy of Social Sciences (Sahoe Kwahagwŏn).
- Core Feature: Uses specific markers like breves (ŭ, ŏ) to represent unique Korean vowel sounds.
Transcription Rules for Hangul
Vowel Transcription
The system maps Hangul vowels to Latin characters to maintain phonetic consistency. Notable mappings include ㅓ as ŏ and ㅡ as ŭ.
| Hangul | Romanization | Hangul | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㅏ | a | ㅗ | o |
| ㅑ | ya | ㅛ | yo |
| ㅓ | ŏ | ㅜ | u |
| ㅕ | yŏ | ㅠ | yu |
| ㅡ | ŭ | ㅣ | i |
| ㅐ | ae | ㅚ | oi |
| ㅔ | e | ㅟ | wi |
Consonant Transcription
Consonants are transcribed differently depending on whether they appear at the beginning (initial) or end (final) of a syllable.
- Initial Consonants: Standard mappings include ㄱ as k, ㄷ as t, and ㅂ as p.
- Final Consonants: These often shift; for example, ㄱ becomes k, ㄴ becomes n, and ㄹ becomes l.
- Voicing: The voiceless consonants ㄱ, ㄷ, and ㅂ are transcribed as g, d, and b when they appear between vowels or between resonant sounds and vowels.
Special Phonetic Rules
The system accounts for complex phonetic interactions in the Korean language:
- Double Consonants: At the end of a word or before another consonant, only one of the double consonants is written (e.g., 닭섬 becomes Ta k sŏm). However, if followed by a vowel, both are written (e.g., 붉은 바위 becomes Pu lg ŭnbawi).
- Assimilation: Final consonants may undergo assimilation before resonants, such as 백마산 becoming Pae ng masan.
- Tense Consonants: In compound words, lax consonants that become tense are transcribed as tense consonants if preceded by a vowel. If the next element starts with a resonant, an "n" is added (e.g., 뒤문 becomes Twi n mun).
- Specific Clusters: The clusters ㄴㄹ and ㄴㄴ are transcribed as "ll" only in cases of longstanding usage, such as 천리마 (Chŏ ll ima).
Guidelines for Names and Geography
Personal Names
Personal names follow a specific structure: the family name comes first, followed by a space and the given name. The first letter of the given name is capitalized. For names of Sino-Korean origin (Chinese characters), each character is written separately.
However, this rule is difficult to apply consistently because many names can be either native Korean or Sino-Korean, or both. For instance, the name 보람 could be transcribed as Po Ram (Sino-Korean) or Poram (native Korean).
Administrative and Geographic Terms
The system distinguishes between administrative units and natural geographic features through the use of hyphens:
- Administrative Units (Hyphenated): Terms like -do (province), -si (city), -gun (county), and -ri (village) are attached with a hyphen.
- Geographic/Artificial Features (Not Hyphenated): Terms such as san (mountain), gang (river), and gyo (bridge) are written as separate words.
It is important to note that sound changes are not transcribed in these suffixes; for example, 압록강 is written as Amrok g ang.
Simplified Transcription
For certain geographical names, the system allows for simplification by removing breves (the marks over vowels) and reducing initial double consonants to single consonants (e.g., Sŏpho becomes S o pho).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the basis for the North Korean romanization system?
The system is an adaptation of the McCune–Reischauer system, which was the primary standard before the Academy of Social Sciences introduced the current rules in 1992.
How are double consonants handled at the end of words?
In the final position of a word or before another consonant, only one of the double consonants is transcribed. If the double consonant is followed by a vowel, both are written.
Why is it difficult to transcribe Sino-Korean names correctly?
It is often impossible to determine if a name is native Korean or Sino-Korean based on the Hangul alone, as the same spelling can have different origins or dual meanings.
What is the difference between transcribing a city and a mountain?
Administrative units like cities (-si) or provinces (-do) are hyphenated from the place name, whereas geographic features like mountains (san) or rivers (gang) are not hyphenated.
Are there any variations in how the system is used in practice?
Yes, some publications may vary. For example, while the official rules updated the transcription of certain vowels, the Rodong Sinmun was noted to still use "oe" as of 2022.