View source for McCune–Reischauer

{{short description|Korean language romanization system}}
[[File:Suwon (McCune-Reischauer Romanisation) (cropped).JPG|thumb|In this 2014 photo of a road sign in [[Suwon]], {{lang|ko|화서문}} is romanized {{transliteration|ko|MR|Hwasŏmun}}, using McCune–Reischauer. It would be {{transliteration|ko|RR|Hwaseomun}} in Revised Romanization.]]
{{Korean romanization}}

'''McCune–Reischauer romanization''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|k|j|uː|n|_|ˈ|r|aɪ|ʃ|aʊ|.|ər}} {{respell|mə|KEWN|_|RYSHE|ow|ər}}) is a [[romanization]] system for the [[Korean language]]. It was first published in 1939 by [[George M. McCune]] and [[Edwin O. Reischauer]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Lee |first=Sang-il |title=On Korean Romanization |journal=The Korean Language in America |volume=8 |year=2003 |pages=407–421 |publisher= |jstor=42922825 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42922825}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://koreanstudies.com/DOCS/McCune-Reischauer_1961.pdf |title=Tables of the McCune-Reischauer System for the Romanization of Korean|year=1961|publisher=Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Korea Branch|pages=121}}</ref>

According to Reischauer, McCune "persuaded the American [[Army Map Service]] to adopt [the McCune–Reischauer system], and through the [[Korean War]] it became the foundation for most current Romanizations of Korean place names."<ref>{{cite book |last=Reischauer |first=Edwin O. |year=1986 |title=My Life between Japan and America |location=New York |publisher=Harper & Row |page=70 |isbn=0-06-039054-9}}</ref>

[[Romanization of Korean (North Korean system)|A variant of McCune–Reischauer]] is used as the official system in [[North Korea]]. [[#ALA-LC variant|Another variant]] is currently used for standard romanization library catalogs in [[North America]]. On the other hand, [[South Korea]] formerly used [[#South Korean variant|yet another variant]] as its official system from 1984 to 2000, but replaced it with the [[Revised Romanization of Korean]] in 2000.

== Background ==
In the 1930s, McCune and Reischauer developed the system together in consultation with Korean linguists [[Choe Hyeon-bae]], {{Ill|Jeong In-seop|ko|정인섭}}, and {{Ill|Kim Seon-gi (linguist)|lt=Kim Seon-gi|ko|김선기 (언어철학자)}}.{{sfn|McCune|Reischauer|1939|p=1}}

In 1980, Reischauer wrote in his letter that the system was devised at his suggestion because he "found absolutely no uniform system of any sort, and [he] needed something for the Korean names that appeared in [his] studies on the travels of the monk [[Ennin]]". He also wrote that he and McCune designed their system "with only scholars in mind".<ref>{{Cite web |author=김기중 |year=1986 |script-title=ko:現行 “로마字 表記法”의 문제점 – McCune-Reischauer System을 비판함 |trans-title=Problems of the current romanization system – Criticizing the McCune–Reischauer system |url=https://www.riss.kr/link?id=A19647790 |publisher=[[Gwangju University]] |language=ko |pp=8–9}}</ref>

== Characteristics ==
The following are some characteristics of the McCune–Reischauer system:
* With a few exceptions, it does not attempt to transliterate Korean [[hangul]] but rather represents the phonetic pronunciation.<ref>{{cite book|last=Song|first=Jae Jung|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k-x-AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT87|pages=87|title=The Korean Language: Structure, Use and Context|publisher=Routledge|year=2006|isbn=9781134335893}}</ref>
** Example: {{lang|ko|독립}} (pronounced [{{lang|ko|동닙}}]) {{transliteration|ko|MR|to'''ngn'''ip}} (not *''to'''kr'''ip'')
* The voiceless and voiced [[allophone]]s of the Korean [[phoneme]]s /{{lang|ko|ㄱ}}/, /{{lang|ko|ㄷ}}/, /{{lang|ko|ㅂ}}/, and /{{lang|ko|ㅈ}}/ are transcribed differently.
** Examples: {{lang|ko|가구}} {{transliteration|ko|MR|'''k'''a'''g'''u}}, {{lang|ko|등대}} {{transliteration|ko|MR|'''t'''ŭng'''d'''ae}}, {{lang|ko|반복}} {{transliteration|ko|MR|'''p'''an'''b'''ok}}, {{lang|ko|주장}} {{transliteration|ko|MR|'''ch'''u'''j'''ang}}
* The apostrophe is used for transcribing [[Aspiration (phonetics)|strongly aspirated]] consonants {{lang|ko|ㅋ}}, {{lang|ko|ㅌ}}, {{lang|ko|ㅍ}}, and {{lang|ko|ㅊ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|k'}}, {{transliteration|ko|MR|t'}}, {{transliteration|ko|MR|p'}} and {{transliteration|ko|MR|ch'}} respectively), and for distinguishing {{lang|ko|ㄴㄱ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|n'g}}) from {{lang|ko|ㅇㅇ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|ng}}).
** Examples: {{lang|ko|투표}} {{transliteration|ko|MR|'''t{{`}}'''u'''p{{`}}'''yo}}; {{lang|ko|연구}} {{transliteration|ko|MR|yŏ'''n'g'''u}} (cf. {{lang|ko|영어}} {{transliteration|ko|MR|yŏngŏ}})
* The [[breve]] is used for the vowels {{lang|ko|ㅓ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|ŏ}}) and {{lang|ko|ㅡ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|ŭ}}), and [[diphthong]]s containing those sounds ({{lang|ko|ㅕ}} {{transliteration|ko|MR|yŏ}}, {{lang|ko|ㅝ}} {{transliteration|ko|MR|wŏ}}; {{lang|ko|ㅢ}} {{transliteration|ko|MR|ŭi}}).

=== Limitations ===
McCune–Reischauer employs dual use of apostrophes, with the more common being for syllabic boundaries. Therefore, it may take some time for learners to familiarise themselves with the placement of apostrophes to determine how a romanized Korean word is pronounced. For example, {{lang|ko|마찬가지}} → {{transliteration|ko|MR|mach'an'gaji}}, which consists of the syllables {{transliteration|ko|MR|ma}}, {{transliteration|ko|MR|ch'an}}, {{transliteration|ko|MR|ga}}, and {{transliteration|ko|MR|ji}}.

In the early days of the Internet, the apostrophe and breve were even omitted altogether for both technical and practical reasons, which made it impossible to differentiate the strongly aspirated consonants {{transliteration|ko|MR|k'}}, {{transliteration|ko|MR|t'}}, {{transliteration|ko|MR|p'}} and {{transliteration|ko|MR|ch'}} from the [[Tenuis consonant|unaspirated consonants]] {{transliteration|ko|MR|k}}, {{transliteration|ko|MR|t}}, {{transliteration|ko|MR|p}} and {{transliteration|ko|MR|ch}}, and the vowels {{lang|ko|ㅓ}} and {{lang|ko|ㅡ}} from {{lang|ko|ㅗ}} and {{lang|ko|ㅜ}}. As a result, the South Korean government adopted a [[Revised Romanization|revised system of romanization]] in 2000.<ref name="MoCT2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.korea.net/korea/kor_loca.asp?code=A020303|title=Romanization of Korean|date=July 2000|website=[[Korea.net]]|publisher=Ministry of Culture & Tourism|access-date=9 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070916025652/http://www.korea.net/korea/kor_loca.asp?code=A020303 <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=16 September 2007}}</ref> However, Korean critics claimed that the Revised System fails to represent {{lang|ko|ㅓ}} and {{lang|ko|ㅡ}} in a way that is easily recognizable and misrepresents the way that the unaspirated consonants are actually pronounced.

Regardless of the official adoption of the new system in South Korea, North Korea continues to use a version of McCune–Reischauer.

== Guide ==
This is a simplified guide for the McCune–Reischauer system.

=== Vowels ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Hangul
|{{lang|ko|ㅏ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅐ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅑ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅒ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅓ}}||{{nowrap|{{lang|ko|ㅔ}}{{efn|{{lang|ko|에}} is romanized {{transliteration|ko|MR|ë}} after {{lang|ko|ㅏ}} and {{lang|ko|ㅗ}}. This is to distinguish {{lang|ko|ㅏ에}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|aë}}) from {{lang|ko|ㅐ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|ae}}), and {{lang|ko|ㅗ에}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|oë}}) from {{lang|ko|ㅚ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|oe}}).}}}}||{{lang|ko|ㅕ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅖ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅗ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅘ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅙ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅚ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅛ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅜ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅝ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅞ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅟ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅠ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅡ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅢ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅣ}}
|-
!Romanization
|a||ae||ya||yae||ŏ||e||yŏ||ye||o||wa||wae||oe||yo||u||wŏ||we||wi||yu||ŭ||ŭi||i
|}

=== Consonants ===
==== Word-initially and word-finally ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2"|Hangul
|{{lang|ko|ㄱ}}||{{lang|ko|ㄲ}}||{{lang|ko|ㄴ}}||{{lang|ko|ㄷ}}||{{lang|ko|ㄸ}}||{{lang|ko|ㄹ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅁ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅂ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅃ}}||{{nowrap|{{lang|ko|ㅅ}}{{efn|name=shwi|{{lang|ko|ㅅ}} is romanized {{transliteration|ko|MR|sh}} before {{lang|ko|ㅟ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|wi}}).}}}}||{{nowrap|{{lang|ko|ㅆ}}{{efn|While {{lang|ko|ㅆ}} is also used as a syllabic final (unlike {{lang|ko|ㄸ}}, {{lang|ko|ㅃ}}, and {{lang|ko|ㅉ}} which are only used as syllabic initials), it does not occur at the end of a word.}}}}||{{nowrap|{{lang|ko|ㅇ}}{{efn|name=sylInitIŭng|As a syllabic initial, {{lang|ko|ㅇ}} is not romanized, since it stands for the absence of a consonant sound in this position.}}}}||{{lang|ko|ㅈ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅉ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅊ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅋ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅌ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅍ}}||{{lang|ko|ㅎ}}
|-
! rowspan="2"|Romanization!!Word-initial
| rowspan="2"|k||kk|| rowspan="2"|n|| rowspan="2"|t||tt||r|| rowspan="2"|m|| rowspan="2"|p||pp||s||ss||—||ch||tch||ch'||k'||t'||p'||h
|-
!Word-final
|k||—||l||—||t||—||ng||t||—||t||k||t||p||t
|}
The heterogeneous consonant digraphs ({{lang|ko|ㄳ}}, {{lang|ko|ㄵ}}, {{lang|ko|ㄶ}}, {{lang|ko|ㄺ}}, {{lang|ko|ㄻ}}, {{lang|ko|ㄼ}}, {{lang|ko|ㄽ}}, {{lang|ko|ㄾ}}, {{lang|ko|ㄿ}}, {{lang|ko|ㅀ}}, and {{lang|ko|ㅄ}}) exist only as syllabic finals and are transcribed by their actual pronunciation.

==== Word-medially ====
The following table is sufficient for the transcription of most proper names.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Final consonant of the previous syllable + initial consonant of the next syllable
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2"| || colspan="15" | Initial{{efn|Any syllabic final + syllabic initial combination with the syllabic initial {{lang|ko|ㅊ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|ch'}}), {{lang|ko|ㅋ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|k'}}), {{lang|ko|ㅌ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|t'}}), or {{lang|ko|ㅍ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|p'}}) is the same as concatenating the word-final and word-initial values above (e.g. {{lang|ko|ㄱㅊ}} is simply {{transliteration|ko|MR|kch'}}, {{lang|ko|ㅇㅍ}} is simply {{transliteration|ko|MR|ngp'}}, and so on), hence not shown in this table.}}
|-
!{{nowrap|{{lang|ko|ㅇ}}{{efn|name=sylInitIŭng}}}}<br>—!!{{lang|ko|ㄱ}}<br>k!!{{lang|ko|ㄲ}}<br>kk!!{{lang|ko|ㄴ}}<br>n!!{{lang|ko|ㄷ}}<br>t!!{{lang|ko|ㄸ}}<br>tt!!{{lang|ko|ㄹ}}<br>r!!{{lang|ko|ㅁ}}<br>m!!{{lang|ko|ㅂ}}<br>p!!{{lang|ko|ㅃ}}<br>pp!!{{nowrap|{{lang|ko|ㅅ}}{{efn|name=shwi}}}}<br>s!!{{lang|ko|ㅆ}}<br>ss!!{{lang|ko|ㅈ}}<br>ch!!{{lang|ko|ㅉ}}<br>tch!!{{lang|ko|ㅎ}}<br>h
|-
! rowspan="8"| Final || {{nowrap|(vowel){{efn|When the previous syllable ends in a vowel (e.g. {{lang|ko|아주}} is romanized {{transliteration|ko|MR|aju}}, not ''achu'').}}}}
|—||'''g'''||kk||n||'''d'''||tt||r||m||'''b'''||pp||s||ss||'''j'''||tch||h
|-
! {{lang|ko|ㄱ}} k
|'''g'''||kk||k'''k'''<!--not "kkk"-->||'''ng'''n||kt||ktt||'''ngn'''||'''ng'''m||kp||kpp||ks||kss||kch||ktch||kh
|-
! {{lang|ko|ㄴ}} n
|n||n'''{{`}}g'''||nkk||nn||n'''d'''||ntt||'''ll'''||nm||n'''b'''||npp||ns||nss||n'''j'''||ntch||nh
|-
! {{lang|ko|ㄷ}} t
|'''d'''||tk||tkk||'''n'''n||tt||t'''t'''<!--not "ttt"-->||'''nn'''||'''n'''m||tp||tpp||'''s'''s||'''ss'''<!--not "tss" or "sss"-->||tch||t'''ch'''<!--not "ttch"-->||th
|-
! {{lang|ko|ㄹ}} l
|'''r'''||l'''g'''||lkk||l'''l'''||{{nowrap|l'''d'''{{efn|In Sino-Korean words, usually ''lt''.}}}}||ltt||l'''l'''||lm||l'''b'''||lpp||ls||lss||{{nowrap|l'''j'''{{efn|In Sino-Korean words, usually ''lch''.}}}}||ltch||'''r'''h
|-
! {{lang|ko|ㅁ}} m
|m||m'''g'''||mkk||mn||m'''d'''||mtt||m'''n'''||mm||m'''b'''||mpp||ms||mss||m'''j'''||mtch||mh
|-
! {{lang|ko|ㅂ}} p
|'''b'''||pk||pkk||'''m'''n||pt||ptt||'''mn'''||'''m'''m||pp||p'''p'''<!--not "ppp"-->||ps||pss||pch||ptch||ph
|-
! {{lang|ko|ㅇ}} ng
|ng||ng'''g'''||ngkk||ngn||ng'''d'''||ngtt||ng'''n'''||ngm||ng'''b'''||ngpp||ngs||ngss||ng'''j'''||ngtch||ngh
|}

The following subsections are for cases not covered by the table above, or for cases where the result should be different from the table.

===== Any non-{{lang|ko|ㅎ}} syllabic final + syllabic initial {{lang|ko|ㅇ}} =====
In this combination, the syllabic final (except {{lang|ko|ㅇ}}, which is always {{transliteration|ko|MR|ng}}) is
# either directly transferred to the syllabic initial position of the next syllable (i.e. replacing the {{lang|ko|ㅇ}}),
#* Examples: {{lang|ko|독일}} [{{lang|ko|도길}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|To'''g'''il}}, {{lang|ko|낟알}} [{{lang|ko|나달}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|na'''d'''al}}, {{lang|ko|촬영}} [{{lang|ko|촤령}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|ch'wa'''r'''yŏng}}, {{lang|ko|답안}} [{{lang|ko|다반}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|ta'''b'''an}}, {{lang|ko|웃어라}} [{{lang|ko|우서라}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|u'''s'''ŏra}}, {{lang|ko|낮은}} [{{lang|ko|나즌}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|na'''j'''ŭn}}
## When the syllabic final {{lang|ko|ㄷ}} or {{lang|ko|ㅌ}} (including {{lang|ko|ㄾ}}) is followed by {{lang|ko|이}}, palatalization occurs.
##* Examples: {{lang|ko|미닫이}} [{{lang|ko|미다지}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|mida'''j'''i}}, {{lang|ko|같이}} [{{lang|ko|가치}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|ka'''ch{{`}}'''i}}, {{lang|ko|훑이다}} [{{lang|ko|훌치다}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|hu'''lch{{`}}'''ida}}
## Syllabic final digraphs are split.
##* Examples: {{lang|ko|앉아}} [{{lang|ko|안자}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|a'''nj'''a}}, {{lang|ko|읊어}} [{{lang|ko|을퍼}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|ŭ'''lp{{`}}'''ŏ}}
# or neutralized to one of {ㄱ, ㄴ, ㄷ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㅂ} first, and then transferred to the syllabic initial position of the next syllable.
#* Examples: {{lang|ko|웃어른}} [{{lang|ko|욷어른}}→{{lang|ko|우더른}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|u'''d'''ŏrŭn}}, {{lang|ko|값어치}} [{{lang|ko|갑어치}}→{{lang|ko|가버치}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|ka'''b'''ŏch'i}}

===== Any non-{{lang|ko|ㅎ}} syllabic final + syllabic initial {ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅈ} =====
If the syllabic initial is pronounced
* {[{{lang|ko|ㄱ}}], [{{lang|ko|ㄷ}}], [{{lang|ko|ㅂ}}], [{{lang|ko|ㅈ}}]}, they are romanized {''g'', ''d'', ''b'', ''j''}. When {{transliteration|ko|MR|g}} is preceded by {{transliteration|ko|MR|n}}, an apostrophe is added between them (i.e. {{transliteration|ko|MR|n'g}}).
* {[{{lang|ko|ㄲ}}], [{{lang|ko|ㄸ}}], [{{lang|ko|ㅃ}}], [{{lang|ko|ㅉ}}]}, they are romanized {''k'', ''t'', ''p'', ''ch''} (not {''kk'', ''tt'', ''pp'', ''tch''}).

Examples:
* {{lang|ko|대궐}} [{{lang|ko|대궐}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|tae'''g'''wŏl}} vs. {{lang|ko|태권도}} [{{lang|ko|태꿘도}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|t'ae'''k'''wŏndo}}
* {{lang|ko|전등}} [{{lang|ko|전등}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|chŏn'''d'''ŭng}} vs. {{lang|ko|손등}} [{{lang|ko|손뜽}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|son'''t'''ŭng}}
* {{lang|ko|물방아}} [{{lang|ko|물방아}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|mul'''b'''anga}} vs. {{lang|ko|물방울}} [{{lang|ko|물빵울}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|mul'''p'''angul}}
* {{lang|ko|환자}} [{{lang|ko|환자}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|hwan'''j'''a}} vs. {{lang|ko|한자}}({{lang|ko|漢字}}) [{{lang|ko|한짜}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|han'''ch'''a}}

===== Any syllabic final + syllabic initial {{lang|ko|ㅎ}} =====
Any combination with the syllabic initial {{lang|ko|ㅎ}} is transcribed based on the actual pronunciation, except when the result is [{{lang|ko|ㅋ}}], [{{lang|ko|ㅌ}}], or [{{lang|ko|ㅍ}}]; these are treated as {{lang|ko|ㄱㅎ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|kh}}), {{lang|ko|ㄷㅎ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|th}}), and {{lang|ko|ㅂㅎ}} ({{transliteration|ko|MR|ph}}) respectively.

* Examples: {{lang|ko|앉히다}} [{{lang|ko|안치다}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|a'''nch{{`}}'''ida}}, {{lang|ko|굳히다}} [{{lang|ko|구치다}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|ku'''ch{{`}}'''ida}}, {{lang|ko|맞히다}} [{{lang|ko|마치다}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|ma'''ch{{`}}'''ida}}
* Examples of exceptions:
** {{lang|ko|속히}} ([{{lang|ko|소키}}], but treated as [{{lang|ko|속히}}]) {{transliteration|ko|MR|so'''kh'''i}}
** {{lang|ko|못하다}} ([{{lang|ko|모타다}}], treated as [{{lang|ko|몯하다}}]) {{transliteration|ko|MR|mo'''th'''ada}}
** {{lang|ko|곱하기}} ([{{lang|ko|고파기}}], treated as [{{lang|ko|곱하기}}]) {{transliteration|ko|MR|ko'''ph'''agi}}

===== Syllabic final {{lang|ko|ㅎ}} + any syllabic initial =====
Any combination with the syllabic final {{lang|ko|ㅎ}} (including {{lang|ko|ㄶ}} and {{lang|ko|ㅀ}}) is transcribed based on the actual pronunciation.
* Examples: {{lang|ko|좋다}} [{{lang|ko|조타}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|cho'''t{{`}}'''a}}, {{lang|ko|많네}} [{{lang|ko|만네}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|ma'''n'''ne}}, {{lang|ko|끓고}} [{{lang|ko|끌코}}] {{transliteration|ko|MR|kkŭ'''lk{{`}}'''o}}

=== Personal names ===
The rules stated above are also applied in personal names, except between a surname and a given name. A surname and a given name are separated by a space, but multiple syllables within a surname or within a given name are joined without hyphens or spaces.

The original 1939 paper states the following:{{sfn|McCune|Reischauer|1939|pp=52–53}}
{{Blockquote
|text='''The Romanization of Proper Names and Titles'''

Proper names like words should not be divided into syllables, as has often been done in the past. For example, the geographic term {{lang|ko|光州}} should be romanized Kwangju. Irregularities occurring in proper names such as in P'yŏngyang {{lang|ko|平壤}} which is colloquially pronounced P'iyang or P'eyang, should usually be ignored in romanizations intended for scholarly use.

Personal names demand special consideration. As in China, the great majority of surnames are monosyllables representing a single character, while a few are two character names. The given name, which follows the surname, usually has two characters but sometimes only one. In both two character surnames and two character given names the general rules of euphonic change should be observed, and the two syllables should be written together.

The problem of the euphonic changes between a surname and given name or title is very difficult. A man known as Paek Paksa {{lang|ko|백 박사}} (Dr. Paek) might prove to have the full name of Paeng Nakchun {{lang|ko|백낙준}} because of the assimilation of the final ''k'' of his surname and the initial ''n'' of his given name. The use in romanization of both Dr. Paek and Paeng Nakchun for the same person would result in considerable confusion. Therefore it seems best for romanizations purposes to disregard euphonic changes between surnames and given names or titles, so that the above name should be romanized Paek Nakchun.

For ordinary social use our romanization often may not prove suitable for personal names. Even in scholarly work there are also a few instances of rather well-established romanizations for proper names which might be left unchanged, just as the names of some of the provinces of China still have traditional romanizations not in accord with the [[Wade–Giles]] system. There is, for example, Seoul, which some may prefer to the Sŏul of our system. Another very important example is {{lang|ko|[[Lee (Korean surname)|李]]}}, the surname of the kings of the last Korean dynasty and still a very common Korean surname. Actually it is pronounced in the standard dialect and should be romanized ''{{serif|I}}'', but some may prefer to retain the older romanization, ''Yi'', because that is already the familiar form. In any case the other romanizations of {{lang|ko|李}}, ''Ri'' and ''Li'', should not be used.
}}

The original paper also gives McCune–Reischauer romanizations for a number of other personal names:
* Footnotes on page 1: {{transliteration|ko|MR|Ch'oe Hyŏnbae}} ({{lang|ko|최현배}}), {{transliteration|ko|MR|Chŏng Insŏp}} ({{lang|ko|정인섭}}), {{transliteration|ko|MR|Kim Sŏn'gi}} ({{lang|ko|김선기}})
* Footnotes on page 4: {{transliteration|ko|MR|Ch'oe Namsŏn}} ({{lang|ko|崔南善}} ({{lang|ko|최남선}}))
* Footnotes on page 20: {{transliteration|ko|MR|Kim Yongun}} ({{lang|ko|金龍雲}} ({{lang|ko|김용운}})), {{transliteration|ko|MR|O Sejun}} ({{lang|ko|吳世𤀹}} ({{lang|ko|오세준}}))

== Variants ==

=== North Korean variant ===
{{Main|Romanization of Korean (North Korean system)}}
A variant of McCune–Reischauer is currently in official use in [[North Korea]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Working Paper No. 46 |url=https://unstats.un.org/Unsd/geoinfo/UNGEGN/docs/6th-uncsgn-docs/WP/6th_uncsgn_WP46.pdf |access-date=2018-03-17 |website=[[UNGEGN]]}}</ref> The following are the differences between the original McCune–Reischauer and the North Korean variant:
* Aspirated consonants are represented by adding an ''h'' instead of an apostrophe.
** However, {{lang|ko|ㅊ}} is transcribed as ''ch'', not ''chh''.
* {{lang|ko|ㅈ}} is transcribed as ''j'' even when it is voiceless.
* {{lang|ko|ㅉ}} is transcribed as ''jj'' instead of ''tch''.
* {{lang|ko|ㄹㄹ}} is transcribed as ''lr'' instead of ''ll''.
* {{lang|ko|ㄹㅎ}} is transcribed as ''lh'' instead of ''rh''.
* When {{lang|ko|ㄹ}} is pronounced as {{lang|ko|ㄴ}}, it is still transcribed as ''r'' instead of ''n''.
* {{lang|ko|ㄴㄱ}} and {{lang|ko|ㅇㅇ}} are differentiated by a hyphen.
** But when ''ng'' is followed by ''y'' or ''w'', a hyphen is not used, like the original system.
* In personal names, each syllable in a Sino-Korean given name is separated by a space with the first letter of each syllable capitalized (e.g. {{lang|ko|안복철}} ''An Pok Chŏl''). Syllables in a native Korean name are joined without syllabic division (e.g. {{lang|ko|김꽃분이}} ''Kim KKotpuni'').
** However, it is not really possible to follow this rule. See the {{Section link|#ALA-LC variant}} section below.

The following table illustrates the differences above.
{| class="wikitable"
! Hangul !! McCune–Reischauer !! North Korean variant !! Meaning
|-
| {{lang|ko|편지}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|p'yŏnji}} || ''phyŏnji'' || [[letter (message)]]
|-
| {{lang|ko|주체}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|Chuch'e}} || ''Juche'' || [[Juche]]
|-
| {{lang|ko|안쪽}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|antchok}} || ''anjjok'' || inside
|-
| {{lang|ko|빨리}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|ppalli}} || ''ppalri'' || quickly
|-
| {{lang|ko|발해}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|Parhae}} || ''Palhae'' || [[Balhae]]
|-
| {{lang|ko|목란}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|mongnan}} || ''mongran'' || ''[[Magnolia sieboldii]]''
|-
| {{lang|ko|연구}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|yŏn'gu}} || ''yŏn-gu'' || research, study
|-
| {{lang|ko|영어}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|yŏngŏ}} || ''yŏng-ŏ'' || English language
|-
| {{lang|ko|안복철}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|An Pokch'ŏl}} || ''An Pok Chŏl'' || personal name (surname {{lang|ko|안}}, given name {{lang|ko|복철}})
|}

=== South Korean variant ===
A variant of McCune–Reischauer<ref>{{Cite web|author=[[National Institute of Korean Language|Academy of the Korean Language]] |script-title=ko:국어 로마자 표기법 |trans-title=Romanization of Korean |publisher=Korean-language Life (국어생활) |date=October 1984 |url=https://www.korean.go.kr/nkview/nklife/1984_1/1984_0106.pdf#page=2 |language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Republic of Korea |title=Report on the State of Standardization of Geographical Names and Romanization in Korea |publisher=United Nations Economic and Social Council |date=1987-08-25 |url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/ungegn/docs/5th-uncsgn-doc/e_conf_79_inf68.pdf}}</ref> was in official use in South Korea from 1984 to 2000. The following are the differences between the original McCune–Reischauer and the South Korean variant:
* {{lang|ko|시}} was written as ''shi'' instead of the original system's {{transliteration|ko|MR|si}}. When {{lang|ko|ㅅ}} is followed by {{lang|ko|ㅣ}}, it is realized as {{IPA|[ɕ]}} (similar to English {{IPA|[ʃ]}} (''sh'' as in ''show'')) instead of {{IPA|[s]}}. The original system uses ''sh'' only in {{lang|ko|쉬}}, as {{transliteration|ko|MR|shwi}}.
* {{lang|ko|ㅝ}} was written as ''wo'' instead of the original system's {{transliteration|ko|MR|wŏ}}. Because the diphthong ''w'' ({{lang|ko|ㅗ}} or {{lang|ko|ㅜ}} as a [[semivowel]]) + ''o'' ({{lang|ko|ㅗ}}) does not exist in Korean phonology, the South Korean government omitted the breve in {{transliteration|ko|MR|wŏ}}.
* Hyphens were used to distinguish between {{lang|ko|ㄴㄱ}} and {{lang|ko|ㅇㅇ}}, between {{lang|ko|ㅏ에}} and {{lang|ko|ㅐ}}, and between {{lang|ko|ㅗ에}} and {{lang|ko|ㅚ}} in this variant system, instead of the apostrophes and ''ë'' in the original version. Therefore, apostrophes were used only for aspiration marks and ''ë'' was not used in the South Korean system.
* {{lang|ko|ㄹㅎ}} was written as ''lh'' instead of {{transliteration|ko|MR|rh}}.
* Assimilation-induced aspiration by a syllabic initial {{lang|ko|ㅎ}} was indicated. {{lang|ko|ㄱㅎ}} is written as {{transliteration|ko|MR|kh}} in the original system and as ''k{{`}}'' in the South Korean variant.
* In personal names, each syllable in a given name was separated by a hyphen. The consonants {{lang|ko|ㄱ}}, {{lang|ko|ㄷ}}, {{lang|ko|ㅂ}}, and {{lang|ko|ㅈ}} right after a hyphen were transcribed using the voiceless letter (''k'', ''t'', ''p'', and ''ch'' respectively) even when they are voiced (e.g. {{lang|ko|남궁동자}} ''Namgung Tong-cha''). But a hyphen can be omitted in non-Sino-Korean names (e.g. {{lang|ko|한하나}} ''Han Hana'').
** However, it is not really possible to follow this rule. See the {{Section link|#ALA-LC variant}} section below.

The following table illustrates the differences above.
{| class="wikitable"
! Hangul !! McCune–Reischauer !! South Korean variant !! Meaning
|-
| {{lang|ko|시장}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|sijang}} || ''shijang'' || market
|-
| {{lang|ko|쉽다}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|shwipta}} || ''swipta'' || easy
|-
| {{lang|ko|소원}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|sowŏn}} || ''sowon'' || wish
|-
| {{lang|ko|연구}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|yŏn'gu}} || ''yŏn-gu'' || research, study
|-
| {{lang|ko|영어}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|yŏngŏ}} || ''yŏng-ŏ'' || English language
|-
| {{lang|ko|회사에서}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|hoesaësŏ}} || ''hoesa-esŏ'' || at a company
|-
| {{lang|ko|차고에}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|ch'agoë}} || ''ch'ago-e'' || in a garage
|-
| {{lang|ko|발해}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|Parhae}} || ''Palhae'' || [[Balhae]]
|-
| {{lang|ko|낙하산}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|nakhasan}} || ''nak'asan'' || parachute
|-
| {{lang|ko|못하다}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|mothada}} || ''mot'ada'' || to be poor at
|-
| {{lang|ko|곱하기}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|kophagi}} || ''kop'agi'' || multiplication
|-
| {{lang|ko|남궁동자}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|Namgung Tongja}} || ''Namgung Tong-cha'' || personal name (surname {{lang|ko|남궁}}, given name {{lang|ko|동자}})
|}

=== ALA-LC variant ===
The [[ALA-LC romanization]] of Korean (2009)<ref name="ALA-LC">{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/romanization/korean.pdf |title=ALA-LC Romanization Tables – Korean |year=2009 |website=[[Library of Congress]]}}</ref> is currently used for standard romanization library catalogs in [[North America]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://guides.lib.uchicago.edu/c.php?g=297706&p=1986849|title=McCune-Reischauer Romanization|publisher=[[University of Chicago]]}}</ref> It is based on but deviates from McCune–Reischauer. The following are some differences between the original McCune–Reischauer and the ALA-LC variant:
* Unlike the original McCune–Reischauer, it addresses word division in 29 pages of detail.<ref name="ALA-LC" />{{Rp|pp=17–45}}
** A [[Korean postpositions|postposition]] (or [[Grammatical particle|particle]]) is separated from its preceding word,<ref name="ALA-LC" />{{Rp|page=30}} even though the original McCune–Reischauer paper explicitly states that this should not be done.<ref>{{harvnb|McCune|Reischauer|1939|p=51}}: "The nouns, likewise, should be written together with their postpositions, including those called case endings, not separately as in Japanese, because phonetically the two are so merged that it would often be difficult and misleading to attempt to divide them."</ref>
* /{{lang|ko|ㄷ}}/ + /{{lang|ko|ㅆ}}/ is written as ''ts'' instead of ''ss''.<ref name="ALA-LC" />{{Rp|pp=8, 19, 21, 66}}
* The surname {{lang|ko|이}} is written as ''Yi'' instead of ''{{serif|I}}''.<ref name="ALA-LC" />{{Rp|page=14}}
* For given names:
** A hyphen is inserted between the syllables of a two-syllable given name only when it is preceded by a surname, with the sound change between the syllables indicated<ref name="ALA-LC" />{{Rp|page=13}} (e.g. {{lang|ko|이석민}} ''Yi Sŏng-min''). The original McCune–Reischauer paper explicitly states that this also should not be done.<ref>{{harvnb|McCune|Reischauer|1939|p=49}}: "A simple example, the word Silla, will help to clarify the point. In Chinese, ''hsin'' 新 plus ''lo'' 羅 are pronounced Hsin-lo but in Korea, ''sin'' 新 plus ''na'' (''la'') 羅 are pronounced Silla. To hyphenate this name as Sil-la would imply that it is composed of two parts which individually are ''sil'' and ''la'', which is obviously misleading."</ref>
** If a given name is three syllables long<ref name="ALA-LC" />{{Rp|page=40}} or is of non-Sino-Korean origin, the syllables are joined without syllabic division<ref name="ALA-LC" />{{Rp|page=41}} (e.g. {{lang|ko|신사임당}} ''Sin Saimdang'', {{lang|ko|김삿갓}} ''Kim Satkat'').
** However, it is not really possible to follow this rule because a certain name written in hangul can be a native Korean name, or a Sino-Korean name, or even both. For example, {{lang|ko|[[Bo-ram (name)|보람]]}} can not only be a native Korean name,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lawpeople.lawtimes.co.kr/lawman/10502/preview|script-title=ko:김보람(金보람)|work=한국법조인대관|trans-work=List of Legal Professionals in Korea|publisher=법률신문 (The Law Times)|access-date=2023-08-15|language=ko}}</ref> but can also be a Sino-Korean name (e.g. 寶濫).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lawpeople.lawtimes.co.kr/lawman/21732/preview|script-title=ko:강보람(姜寶濫)|work=한국법조인대관|trans-work=List of Legal Professionals in Korea|publisher=법률신문 (The Law Times)|access-date=2023-08-15|language=ko}}</ref> In some cases, parents intend a dual meaning: both the meaning from a native Korean word and the meaning from [[hanja]]. In fact, ALA-LC admitted that it is not really possible to determine whether a certain given name is Sino-Korean or not.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lee |first=Hyoungbae |date=2015-01-29 |url=https://koreanstudies.com/pipermail/koreanstudies_koreanstudies.com/2015-January/011492.html |title=Introducing Korean Name Romanizer |website=Korean Studies mailing list |quote=It makes an effort to distinguish Sino-Korean names from names of native or western origin based on pronunciation. When ambiguity arises, a string is considered Sino-Korean and might need to be modified manually. [...] 김새미 => Kim Sae-mi (ambiguous) |access-date=2025-03-14 }}</ref>

The following table illustrates the differences above.
{| class="wikitable"
! Hangul !! McCune–Reischauer !! ALA-LC variant !! Meaning
|-
| {{lang|ko|꽃이}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|kkoch'i}} || ''kkot i'' || flower + (subject marker)
|-
| {{lang|ko|굳세다}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|kusseda}} || ''kutseda'' || strong, firm
|-
| {{lang|ko|이석민}} || {{transliteration|ko|MR|{{serif|I}} Sŏngmin}} || ''Yi Sŏng-min'' || personal name (surname {{lang|ko|이}}, given name {{lang|ko|석민}})
|}

The older (1997) version<ref>{{cite book |author=Library of Congress |year=1997 |title=ALA-LC Romanization Tables |url=https://archive.org/details/alalcromanizatio1997unse/page/99 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=[[Library of Congress]] |pages=99–113 |isbn=0-8444-0940-5 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/romanization/korean.pdf |title=ALA-LC Romanization Tables – Korean |year=1997 |website=[[Library of Congress]]}}</ref> of the ALA-LC rule used {{serif|ʻ}} for strongly aspirated consonants and {{serif|ʼ}} for {{lang|ko|ㄴㄱ}} (e.g. {{lang|ko|마찬가지}} ''mach{{serif|'''ʻ'''}}an{{serif|'''ʼ'''}}gaji''), even though the original McCune–Reischauer paper uses the {{serif|’}} shape for both. This distinction in the older ALA-LC rule was removed in the new ALA-LC rule above.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Sources ===

* {{cite journal | last1=McCune |first1=G.M. |first2=E.O. |last2=Reischauer | year=1939 | title= The romanization of the Korean language, based upon its phonetic structure | journal= Transactions of the Korea Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society | volume=29 | pages=1–55 | url=https://raskb.com/full-texts-by-volume-2/}}

== External links ==
* PDF files of the [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f-8H9pJxwCzT4z0pJIh1ogQhrLIpm7Pm/view?usp=drive_link 1939 paper], and the [https://koreanstudies.com/DOCS/McCune-Reischauer_1961.pdf 1961 paper]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090302174913/http://mccune-reischauer.tistory.com/ A Practical Guide to McCune–Reischauer Romanization]: Rules, guidelines, and font
* [http://www.eki.ee/wgrs/rom2_ko.pdf Comparison table of different romanization systems from UN Working Group on Romanization Systems (PDF file)]
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327130423/http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/Romanization/Romanization_Korean.pdf|date=March 27, 2009|title=Romanization System of Korean: McCune Reischauer (with minor modifications) BGN/PCGN 1945 Agreement}}
* [http://www.ushuaia.pl/transliterate/?ln=en Online tool for McCune–Reischauer romanization (with BGN modifications)]

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