[USFK Forums] Korean Romanization Policy

[C. Y. Lee]

Having visited "Korean War Discussion," I am compelled to point out a discrepancy that your Korean romanization must be standardized among three commonly used romanization schemes for the Korean Hangul script, namely (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_romanization):

1) Revised Romanization of Korean: official in South Korea since 2000 and quite common on the Internet;

2) McCune-Reischauer: formerly official in South Korea and a variation of which is currently official in North Korea, and common in popular literature;

3) Yale Romanization: used mainly in linguistics.

The revised version was announced by the Kim Dae-jung's administration on July 4, 2000 (ironically on your 224th Independence Day) to abolish the modified version of McCune-Reischaure originally created in 1937 by two American scholars (George M. McCune and Edwin O. Reischaure) that was adopted by the Korean Government in 1984 for enforcement on and after January 13, 1985.

Traditionally, USFK has been using the American-created version. I am quite disturbed to see that USFK Forums upset the American-created version. For my user registration, I have noticed Item "State" had ready answers such as Busan, Daegu, Dongduchon, Gunsan, Kunsan Air Base which should have been spelled as Pusan, Taegu, Tongduchon, Kunsan, Kunsan Air Base, respectively if we are to stick with the tradition.

Two English newspapers in Korea (Korea Times and Korea Herald) are using different system. Korea Times uses the modified version of McCune-Reischaure while Korea Herald had surrendered to use the Revised Romanization from May 2001 only, whose editorial at the beginning was against the use of the Revised Romanization. Last but not least, may I add that wisdom and maturity don't necessarily go together.

[Mr. Joe]

McCune -Reischauer is great, because they were native English speakers who knew how to "Romanize" Hangul to be pronounced properly! Then some non-English speaker, probably the brother-in -law of some Korean government official, with a money grant and NO idea how an American pronounces, came up with such drivel as Jeonra Bug Do, Suweon, Gangnung, and STUPID words like that. An old Korea hand, James Wade, once said, "Just what does a Jeonra Bug Do?"
Of all the idiotic things to do, screwing up the English language takes the cake! It set Korea back 25 years. Maybe more. I wish we could "standardize among the versions" also, Sonsang Lee, but I have given up trying!
I'm sorry, but three days of study of roughly 10 vowels and 14 consonants and ANYONE can pronounce Hangul! Without that, we are damned to the ridicule, derision and laughter we will get from most Koreans. Suck it up and live with it. They tell us Gunsan should sound like Coon-Sahn, but it doesn't. It is Gunsan, (like Bosun with a gun in front instead of bo.) Gang will never be Kahng in English. Sorry. Won't happen.
The Irish like to say that they invented the bagpipe and gave it to the Scots to make them look foolish! The exact same thing happened when Korea changed from McCune- Reischauer! Jeonra Bug Do on you, Miguk saram!

[C. Y. Lee]

Dear Joe: Let me quote what you have said: "Maybe more. I wish we could "standardize among the versions" also, Songsang Lee, but I have given up trying!"

I do appreciate your sentiments. I am, however, afraid that you have at least misunderstood or otherwise overlooked my point. You have a registration form, a copy of which will be sent to you via e-mail. I was talking about the 8th entry, i.e. State:* showing "Busan."

The same entry has ready answers for one's choice such as Busan*, Camp Carroll, Camp Casey, Camp Hialeah, Camp Humphreys, Camp Long, Camp Page, Camp Red Cloud, Camp Walker, Chinhae, Chunchon, Daegu*, Dongduchon*, Gunsan*, Kunsan Air Base, etc.

My point was to correct those marked with an asterisk(*) based on McCune-Reischaure, which was said to be "great" as you have so said. I am inclined to believe that you are obliged to standardize the romanization in question if you still believe in McCune-Reischaure system. Let me hope that we are now talking about the same language.

[Mr. Joe]

O.K. now I understand! We were on the right track, but riding different trains!
I was speaking generally about the Romanization of the language, hoping that words would be used which would be pronounced as closely as possible to the actual Korean sounds.
What you were saying, specifically, is that the SIGN UP FORM used in these USFK FORUMS should, in your opinion, be REVISED to reflect what you suggested above.
Those words with the asterisk are not in accordance with McCune-Reischauer. Joan V. Underwood, (Mrs. Horace Underwood) a missionary who was born in Korea and educated in England and the U.S. wrote the Concise Dictionary which I still use today. She agreed that the McCune -Reischauer system was the best. And I agree, also. Most readers won't know or care.

But that doesn't solve the "Problem " which we perceive. After we have now explained what we desire to happen, the case must be presented to Mike and he will decide if he wants to make changes to his sign up form, or just forget it and go on to bigger, better and more important items.

Most readers of the forum will believe that the revised spelling using "Daegu" instead of "Taegu" is correct, because the "government" says so. Those folks may spend a lot of time "correcting" other usage. It may be a waste of time, like trying to go back to "Peiking" instead of "Beijing"!

It may be very difficult to adapt a form. "Busan" is not a "State" anyway. Changing it to "Pusan" might make us feel better, but then it is still a city. Adding "location" or Province or whatever to satisfy a couple of us may not be worth the effort. Mike, we'll let it go now, and Mr. Lee, if you want to tell Mike how to spell each word which needs revision, you can email suggestions to him. Everyone enjoy the Columbus Day weekend!