Under the new guidelines, foreign names in Roman characters will be written in capital letters, with the surname preceding the given name and separated by a space. For instance, “TOM SAWYER” would be standardized as “SAWYER TOM.” (Image courtesy of Pexels/CCL)
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Korea Bizwire) – The South Korean government has announced plans to implement a unified system for writing foreign names in administrative documents, a move aimed at reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies and confusion caused by inconsistent name notations.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety disclosed on August 28 that it has drafted a set of standards for foreign name notation and will finalize and implement these rules after a period of public consultation.
Under the new guidelines, foreign names in Roman characters will be written in capital letters, with the surname preceding the given name and separated by a space. For instance, “TOM SAWYER” would be standardized as “SAWYER TOM.”
When available, the Roman alphabet name as it appears on immigration documents such as alien registration cards or domestic residence cards will be used. In the absence of such documents, the name will be taken from the machine-readable zone of the individual’s passport.
For Korean alphabet (Hangeul) notations, names will also follow the surname-first order but without spaces between the surname and given name. The ministry has stipulated that if a Korean version of the name exists in official documents or certificates, such as family relation registers, it should be used.
Under the new guidelines, foreign names in Roman characters will be written in capital letters, with the surname preceding the given name and separated by a space. For instance, “TOM SAWYER” would be standardized as “SAWYER TOM.” (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
Otherwise, the name should be transliterated from its original pronunciation following Korean rules for writing foreign words.
To improve identification processes, the new standard mandates that both the Roman alphabet and Korean versions of the name should be written together when possible. However, if system limitations prevent this, either version may be used alone.
“The diverse ways of writing foreign names in administrative documents have made it difficult to confirm individuals’ identities, leading to administrative inefficiencies,” a ministry official explained. “We also considered the fact that the number of foreign residents in Korea has surpassed 2 million and continues to grow.”
This standardization comes as South Korea grapples with an increasingly diverse population and the administrative challenges that accompany it. The move is expected to streamline processes for both foreign residents and government officials, potentially reducing errors and delays in document processing.
The draft standards are available for public review on the National Participation Legislation Center website, while the Ministry of Interior and Safety is accepting public opinions through mail and the center’s online platform.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
