Put your Korean name into Latin letters
This free Korean Name Romanizer converts given-name syllables and combines them with your selected surname spelling. Check the name boundary first, then copy the full name or its Surname and Given names fields separately.
An automatically generated spelling may differ from the one you already use. The tool distinguishes surname choices, letter mappings and your own spelling so you can compare a new form or reproduce an existing one. Check your registered details and the receiving organization’s requirements for official documents.
What you can do
Confirm the surname boundary
Review the automatic split and adjust the surname length if your name uses a compound surname or a different boundary.
Compare choices and historical counts
Compare surname choices with the letter-mapped form. Selected spellings of 김, 이, 박, 최, 정 and 홍 include sourced historical passport sample counts.
Use your existing spelling
Enter the surname and given names you already use. Your chosen letters are used in the result instead of silently replacing them with the automatic version.
Copy the whole name or each field
Copy the large uppercase result or separate surname and given-name fields. Additional display formats let you compare order, case, hyphens and spaces.
Make your romanized name in five steps
Enter a name, check the surname boundary, choose the letters you need, and copy the result.
- Enter your Korean name — Include the surname in Hangul. You can also start with an example such as 홍길동 or 김민준.
- Check the surname and given name — Confirm that the Hangul name is split correctly. Adjust the surname length if a compound-surname suggestion does not match your name.
- Choose the spelling to use — Select a surname choice or enter your existing Latin surname and given names. If you have a passport, use the letters printed in that document.
- Review the result and its fields — Check the full result and the Surname and Given names fields. Open display formats to compare separators, order and case if you need another presentation.
- Copy the fields you need — Copy the full name or the surname and given names separately. After pasting, check the field labels and letters on the destination form.
Examples of surname and given-name fields
These examples illustrate the display. If you have an established spelling, check that spelling first.
| Korean name | Surname | Given names | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 홍길동 | HONG | GILDONG | The full name is HONG GILDONG. This differs from a given-name-first display. |
| 김민준 | KIM | MINJUN | This example selects Kim. The calculated surname form Gim is a separate choice. |
| 이서연 | LEE | SEOYEON | This example selects Lee. You can copy the surname and given name into separate fields. |
| 홍빛나 | HONG | BITNA | The given name is written syllable by syllable without applying sound changes between them. |
Before you choose a spelling
If you already have a passport
Check its surname and given names first. A familiar-looking spelling or a higher-ranked choice is not a reason to replace your existing letters.
If you are choosing a new spelling
Compare the letter mapping and surname choices, and look at the surname spelling your family uses. Ask the issuing authority about unusual names or foreign-origin spellings.
When filling in another form
Follow field labels such as Surname and Given names rather than assuming the large result belongs in one box. Follow that service’s instructions for spaces and hyphens.
This is a spelling comparison tool, not an official passport application or approval service.
Ways to use the result
Travel booking forms
Enter your registered Latin spelling, then copy the surname and given names into the matching booking fields.
EMS and international mail
Prepare the Latin spelling of a sender’s or recipient’s name. This tool does not translate addresses or submit postal forms.
Consistent document names
Check the same surname and given-name spelling across applications, résumés and other documents.
Readable profile names
Compare presentations such as Hong Gildong and Hong Gil-Dong and copy the format that fits your profile.
Frequently asked questions
Does this give me an English name?
It writes your Korean name in Latin letters. It does not replace 김민준 with an unrelated English name such as Michael.
Is 김 written Kim or Gim?
The letter mapping produces Gim; Kim is also available as a surname choice. Korean romanization rules allow established personal-name spellings, so a calculated form alone does not make your existing spelling incorrect.
What if my passport uses a different spelling?
Enter its surname and given names in the existing-spelling fields. The result preserves those letters and the spaces or hyphens within your given names, displaying them in capitals. This does not check eligibility for passport registration or a name change.
What do the frequency figures measure?
Selected spellings for 김, 이 and 박 use a 1999 passport sample; 최, 정 and 홍 use 2010 passport registrations. They are reported in a 2011 Ministry of Culture study. Each surname shows its year, sample size and source page. These are historical sample counts, not current population usage or rankings of full names. An unlisted spelling does not imply zero users.
Can it handle two-syllable surnames such as 남궁?
It recognizes compound-surname candidates, but 남궁민 could be 남궁/민 or 남/궁민. The text alone cannot establish your identity. Check the split and choose a one- or two-syllable surname when necessary.
Should given names be joined, hyphenated or spaced?
The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes joined given names as the default and also provides for hyphens and, on request, spaces. For an existing passport, check the change procedure and any effect on visas. Changing a display option here does not change passport records.
What goes in Surname and Given names?
Surname or Family name is your family name. Given name(s) is the rest of your name. For 김민준 with Kim selected, these fields are KIM and MINJUN. The main result displays the surname first; copy each field into the corresponding field on your form.
Are names stored or uploaded?
Conversion and spelling edits happen inside your browser. This tool does not send the names you enter to its server or save them to localStorage. Copying places the selected result on your device clipboard.
Rules and official references
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Passport name spelling basics
Guidance on passport spelling, joined given names and separators (Korean)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Changing a passport name
Criteria to check before changing an existing passport spelling (Korean)
- National Institute of Korean Language · Romanization, Chapter 3
Rules on personal names, sound changes and established spellings (Korean)
- Ministry of Culture · Study on Korean surname romanization policy (2011)
Original historical sample report. 김, 이 and 박 use 1999 data; 최, 정 and 홍 use 2010 registrations.
Official guidance checked: September 21, 2026
How your name is processed
Name conversion runs in your browser. This tool does not upload the entered name or keep it in browser storage. Copied results may remain on your device clipboard. Opening an official reference takes you to that organization’s website.
Comments & questions