Basic principle for the romanized passport name
According to the 'basic method for romanized names' on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs passport information site, a Korean passport's romanized name is in principle the Hangul name registered in the Family Relationship Register, written syllable by syllable according to the method set by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (the Romanization of Korean). The given name is in principle written as one word, and a hyphen (-) may be used between syllables. The examples in the guidance are:
- 홍길동 → HONG GILDONG
- 김빛나 → KIM BITNA
Because of the machine-readable zone, a passport writes the name entirely in capitals. And writing 'syllable by syllable' matters: 빛나 is pronounced [빈나], but it is BITNA, not BINNA. This matches the personal-name rule of the Romanization of Korean (sound changes in given names are not reflected). The converter's 'Passport name' mode produces results in this format (capitals, syllable by syllable, surname first).
How the surname is written
In the 김빛나 example, the surname is written KIM, not GIM as the romanization table would give. Since there is still no finalized official romanization for surnames, widely used customary spellings (KIM, LEE, PARK, etc.) are common in practice. In Passport mode the converter shows both the rule-based and the customary spelling, so check the surname spelling your family already uses and choose accordingly. If family members spell the surname differently, you may have to explain your family relationship at immigration abroad.
What cannot be included
The guidance states that titles, degrees, numbers and special symbols (CEO, DR, 1ST, etc.) cannot be included in the romanized name. It also notes that spaces between the syllables of the given name are possible on request, but may affect visa issuance and the like. The safest forms are 'HONG GILDONG' or 'HONG GIL-DONG'.
Keep the same spelling once set
When a passport is reissued, the principle is to use the same romanized name as the previous passport. If the spelling changes, you risk being suspected of carrying a forged or altered passport at immigration abroad, and the name will no longer match your visas, airline tickets and foreign bank accounts. So choose the spelling carefully when you first get a passport.
When the spelling can be changed
Article 3-2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Passport Act sets out when a change of romanized name is allowed. The main reasons introduced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs passport information are:
- The pronunciation of the Hangul name and the romanized name clearly do not match (except where the spelling already follows the romanization rules or is the spelling used by most people with the same name)
- You have long used a different romanized name abroad for work, study and so on, and the mismatch with the passport causes serious inconvenience
- You want to match the surname spelling of your family to show your family relationship when traveling together
- You are adding, removing or changing a spouse's surname
- The spelling of the romanized name clearly has a negative meaning in the dictionary (e.g. spellings such as GANG, SIN, KILL)
- You have legally changed your Hangul name
- You have never used the passport since it was issued
- You want to keep using a spelling you have used since before age 18 (once only), and others
Conditions and required documents differ by reason and may change at any time, so if you are considering a change, be sure to check directly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs passport information site or the issuing authority.
What to check when choosing for the first time
- First check the surname spelling your family uses (your parents' and siblings' passports).
- Check whether you have already used an English name anywhere. If a name appears on foreign school records, an international driving permit, overseas remittances, papers and so on, it is best to match it.
- See whether the syllable boundaries of your given name could be misread. If it can be read two ways, like JEONGEUN, decide whether to use a hyphen, as in JEONG-EUN.
- Use the chosen spelling identically on every document. If an airline ticket name differs from the passport by even one letter, you may be refused boarding.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For the final spelling and whether a change is possible, follow the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the passport issuing authority.
Basis: Ministry of Foreign Affairs passport information, 'basic method for romanized names' and 'requirements for permitting a change of romanized name'; Enforcement Decree of the Passport Act, Article 3-2. Checked 2026-09-23.