Korean Romanization Converter (Hangul to Revised Romanization)
Romanize Korean Hangul with the official Revised Romanization: sound changes for words and place names, name mode (Han Boknam) and letter-by-letter transliteration.
If these are place names, turn on the place-name option: RR §3.5 writes administrative units after a hyphen without sound changes across it (의정부시 Uijeongbu-si, 인왕리 Inwang-ri).
Applied: liaison, nasalization (백마 Baengma, 왕십리 Wangsimni), lateralization (신라 Silla), palatalization (같이 gachi), h-merging (좋고 joko) and final-consonant neutralization. Tensing is not written (압구정 Apgujeong). The inserted ㄴ of compounds (학여울 [항녀울] Hangnyeoul) cannot be predicted from spelling — type the pronunciation if you need it.
| Hangul | Pronounced | Romanized |
|---|---|---|
| 안 | 안 | an |
| 녕 | 녕 | nyeong |
| 하 | 하 | ha |
| 세 | 세 | se |
| 요 | 요 | yo |
| 종 | 종 | jong |
| 로 | 노 | no |
| 왕 | 왕 | wang |
| 십 | 심 | sim |
| 리 | 니 | ni |
| 신 | 실 | sil |
| 라 | 라 | la |
| 해 | 해 | hae |
| 돋 | 도 | do |
| 이 | 지 | ji |
This converter writes Korean Hangul in Latin letters with the Revised Romanization of Korean, the official system used on road signs and maps and the basis for passport names. Because Revised Romanization follows pronunciation, the tool first works out the standard pronunciation of each word (종로 is said [종노], so it becomes Jongno) and then spells it. A name mode keeps each syllable as written, and a transliteration mode lets the Hangul be restored letter by letter.
How to use this tool
- Paste Korean text in Hangul.
- Choose a mode: words and place names, personal names, or letter-by-letter transliteration.
- Leave "keep h" on for nouns and place names; turn it off for verbs such as 잡혀 (japyeo).
- Choose capitalization and, if needed, hyphens where syllables could be misread.
- Copy the romanized text; the table shows how each syllable was pronounced and spelled.
Formula
Vowels: ㅏ a, ㅓ eo, ㅗ o, ㅜ u, ㅡ eu, ㅣ i, ㅐ ae, ㅔ e, ㅚ oe, ㅟ wi, ㅢ ui, ㅑ ya, ㅕ yeo, ㅛ yo, ㅠ yu. Consonants: ㄱ g/k, ㄷ d/t, ㅂ b/p (g d b before a vowel, k t p before a consonant or at the end), ㄹ r/l (ll for ㄹㄹ), ㅈ j, ㅊ ch, ㅅ s, ㅎ h, ㅇ ng.
Sound changes written: liaison, nasalization (백마 [뱅마] Baengma), lateralization (신라 [실라] Silla), palatalization (해돋이 [해도지] haedoji), aspiration with ㅎ (좋고 [조코] joko; in nouns ㅎ stays after k/t/p: 묵호 Mukho). Not written: tensing (압구정 Apgujeong). The inserted ㄴ in compounds (학여울 [항녀울]) depends on word structure, so the tool does not guess it.
Example
왕십리 is pronounced [왕심니], so it is romanized Wangsimni. 신라 [실라] becomes Silla and 해돋이 [해도지] becomes haedoji. In name mode, 한복남 stays Han Boknam even though it is said [한봉남]. In transliteration mode, 없었습니다 becomes eobs-eoss-seubnida, which can be turned back into the exact Hangul.
Frequently asked questions
Why is 종로 written Jongno and not Jongro?
Revised Romanization spells the pronunciation, and ㄹ after ㅇ is pronounced ㄴ, so 종로 is said [종노]. The same rule gives Wangsimni for 왕십리.
Why is 김 romanized Gim and not Kim?
Letter for letter, Revised Romanization gives Gim. The official rules say family names will be romanized separately, so traditional spellings like Kim, Lee and Park remain in common use; the name mode lists them.
When should I use hyphens?
Rule 3.2 allows a hyphen where the syllables could be read two ways: 중앙 Jung-ang (not Jun-gang) and 해운대 Hae-undae. In names, a hyphen between given-name syllables is allowed (Min Yong-ha).
Why is 인왕리 Inwang-ri and not Inwangni?
Rule 3.5 writes administrative units such as 도, 시, 군, 구, 읍, 면, 리 and 동 after a hyphen and ignores sound changes across that hyphen. Turn on the place-name option for such words, and leave it off for ordinary text, where words like 운동 or 친구 only look like place names. Road names in addresses (-ro, -gil) follow the address rules, so use the Korean address converter for those.
Does it handle every word perfectly?
Most words follow the regular rules, but a few depend on word structure that spelling does not show: the inserted ㄴ of compounds (학여울 Hangnyeoul) and a few ㄴ + ㄹ words such as 신문로 (Sinmunno, not Silmullo). Check important place names against official signs.
Sources
Last updated:
Page address with these inputs: https://kakao.mobile/tools/hangul-romanizer-calculator/
Cite or embed this tool
kakaoCalc. (2026, November 8). Korean Romanization Converter (Hangul to Revised Romanization). https://kakao.mobile/tools/hangul-romanizer-calculator/
“Korean Romanization Converter (Hangul to Revised Romanization).” kakaoCalc, 8 Nov. 2026, kakao.mobile/tools/hangul-romanizer-calculator/.
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