Korean Name Romanization — How to Write Your Name for Passports & Overseas Cards
Jun 23, 2026
When applying for a passport or an overseas card, have you ever wondered "How do I write my Korean name in English?" Is it Hong Gil-dong or Hong Gildong? Should you use a hyphen or not? It can be surprisingly tricky. This guide explains how to accurately romanize Korean names and addresses using the official NIKL (National Institute of Korean Language) romanization system.
Enter a Korean name or address and get the correct Roman-letter spelling instantly — based on the official NIKL standard. Free, no sign-up.
Romanize Korean Name →Why Consistent Romanization Matters
The English spelling of your name on your passport, flight ticket, and overseas card must all match. A mismatch — even a single character difference — can lead to boarding denial or card payment rejection.
- Passport — South Korean passports use the NIKL romanization system or an accepted conventional spelling. Once issued, the same spelling must be kept until the next renewal.
- Flight tickets — Airlines verify that the passenger name on the ticket exactly matches the passport. A one-letter discrepancy can cause issues at check-in.
- Overseas cards & credit cards — If the name on the card differs from your passport or ID, it can raise issues during signature verification or overseas identity checks.
- International forms & documents — Visa applications, overseas bank accounts, international shipping addresses, and other documents all require a consistent English name spelling.
How to Romanize in 2 Steps
- Enter your name — Open the Korean Romanization tool and type your Korean name. You can also convert addresses and place names.
- Copy the result — Review the romanized spelling and copy it directly into your document. No installation or account needed.
Romanization Rules & Things to Watch Out For
Using a Hyphen
Under the NIKL standard, a hyphen is placed between syllables of the given name — so '길동' becomes Gil-dong. However, South Korean passports also allow the hyphen to be omitted, writing it as Gildong. Either form is acceptable, but the most important rule is to match your existing passport spelling if you already have one.
Family Name First
Korean names put the family name first, and romanized Korean names follow the same order: family name first, given name second (e.g., Hong Gil-dong). However, some international forms use the Western order (Given name / Family name). Always check the form's field labels before filling them in.
Keep It Consistent with Your Existing Passport
If you already have a passport, use the exact same English spelling shown on it. Changing your spelling arbitrarily — even if you think the new version is more accurate — creates name mismatches across your documents. If you want to change your passport spelling at renewal, a separate application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is required.
Sound Changes (Liaison & Assimilation)
One of the trickiest parts of Korean romanization is how sounds change at syllable boundaries. For example, '신라' is not Sinla but Silla, and '독립' is not Doklib but Dongnip. FreeSign's romanization tool applies these phonological rules automatically so you don't have to work them out manually.
Romanization Examples
| Korean Name | Standard Romanization | Passport-Allowed Form |
|---|---|---|
| 홍길동 | Hong Gil-dong | Hong Gildong |
| 김민서 | Kim Min-seo | Kim Minseo |
| 이지은 | Lee Ji-eun | Lee Jieun |
| 박준혁 | Park Jun-hyeok | Park Junhyeok |
| 최수연 | Choi Su-yeon | Choi Suyeon |
Other Useful Tools
If you are preparing a passport or overseas documents, you may also need a compliant ID photo. The FreeSign ID Photo tool lets you create passport- and visa-spec photos without a trip to a photo studio. See the step-by-step walkthrough in our ID photo guide.
Based on the official NIKL standard. Free, no sign-up required.
Romanize Korean Name →Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the hyphen between name syllables required?
The NIKL standard recommends placing a hyphen between syllables of the given name (Gil-dong). South Korean passports also accept the hyphen-free form (Gildong). If you already have a passport, match its existing spelling exactly.
Q. How do I separate the family name from the given name?
Use a single space between the family name and given name (Hong Gil-dong). Do not use a hyphen between them. Some forms have separate fields for family name and given name — check the labels first.
Q. Can I change my passport name spelling?
Generally, passport name changes are only possible at renewal. You can apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at that point, but be aware that changing your spelling may create mismatches with existing visas or flight tickets, so consider carefully.
Q. Can I romanize addresses too, not just names?
Yes. The FreeSign romanization tool handles Korean road-name addresses and place names as well as personal names — useful whenever you need to write a Korean address on an international shipping label or overseas form.