Names of Korea

Names of Korea

There are different names for Korea today. These names come from old Korean kingdoms and dynasties. Which name someone uses can depend on the language, whether they are talking about North or South Korea, or even their political views on the Korean conflict.

The name Korea is a name used by other countries. It comes from Goryeo. Both North Korea and South Korea use the name Korea in English. But in the Korean language, North and South Korea use different words for the country. North Korea uses Joseon or Chosŏn. South Korea uses Hanguk.

History

See also: History of Korea

The earliest records of Korean history are written in Chinese characters called hanja. Even after the invention of hangul, Koreans used hanja to write names, either by translation of meaning or transliteration of sound.

Until 108 BC, northern Korea and part of Manchuria were controlled by Gojoseon. In Chinese records, it was written as 朝鮮, which is pronounced in modern Korean as Joseon. The name Joseon is also used by North Koreans and Koreans living in China and Japan.

Around the time of Gojoseon's fall, chiefdoms in southern Korea grouped into confederacies, called the Samhan. Later, the name "Samhan" became linked to the Three Kingdoms of Korea.

The next dynasty called itself Goryeo, and saw itself as continuing Goguryeo. The name Goryeo was a shorter form of Goguryeo, first used in the 5th century by Jangsu.

In 1392, a new dynasty revived the name Joseon (조선; 朝鮮; Chosŏn), after the ancient state Gojoseon.

When the Korean Empire was ruled by Japan in 1910, the name changed back to Joseon. Korea became independent after World War II in 1945 and the country was then divided.

In 1948, the South chose the name Daehanminguk (대한민국; 大韓民國), known in English as the Republic of Korea (ROK). The North became Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk (조선민주주의인민공화국; 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國), called the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Current usage

East Asia

Korea

Today, South Koreans use Hanguk to mean South Korea or Korea as a whole. They use Namhan for South Korea and Bukhan for North Korea. South Koreans sometimes call North Korea Ibuk. They often say “uri nara,” which means “our nation” or “our country.” The official name for South Korea in Korean is “Daehanminguk,” meaning “The Republic of Korea.”

North Koreans use Chosŏn for Korea, Namjosŏn for South Korea, and Pukchosŏn for North Korea, though Pukchosŏn is rarely used. When South and North Korea meet officially, they say Namcheuk and Bukcheuk, meaning “southern side” and “northern side.”

The Korean language is called Hangugeo in the South and Chosŏnŏ in the North. The Korean script is called hangeul in the South and Chosŏn'gŭl in the North. The Korean Peninsula is called Hanbando in the South and Chosŏn Bando in the North.

Chinese-speaking areas

In Chinese-speaking areas such as China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Singapore, different names are used. The Korean Peninsula is usually called Cháoxiǎn Bàndǎo. Ethnic Koreans are called Cháoxiǎnzú, but Hánguó ren may mean South Koreans.

Before friendly ties with South Korea, the People's Republic of China called South Korea Nán Cháoxiǎn. After ties were made, China uses the names each country prefers, calling North Korea Cháoxiǎn and South Korea Hánguó. The Korean War is officially called the Kàngměi Yuáncháo Zhànzhēng, but Cháoxiǎn Zhànzhēng is also used.

Taiwan uses South Korean names, calling North Korea Běihán and South Korea Nánhán. In Hong Kong and Macau, North Korea is called Bak Hon and South Korea Nam Hon.

In Hokkien speaking areas, Korea is called Hân-kok, with North Korea as Pak-hân and South Korea as Lâm-hân.

Japan

In Japan, North Korea is called Kita-Chōsen and South Korea Kankoku. Some North Koreans in Japan prefer Kyōwakoku instead of Kita-Chōsen. For Korea as a whole, Chōsen is commonly used.

The Korean language is often called Kankokugo or Chōsengo in Japan. The term Koriago is sometimes used as a middle name.

Mongolia

Mongolian people call Korea Solongos. North and South Korea are called Hoid Solongos and Ömnöd Solongos.

Vietnamese-speaking areas

In Vietnam, North Korea is called Triều Tiên and South Korea Hàn Quốc. After Vietnam unified, the north’s way of speaking stayed until the 1990s. When South Korea made friends with Vietnam in 1993, it asked Vietnam to use its own name, and Hàn Quốc slowly replaced Nam Triều Tiên.

Outside East Asia

English usage and spelling

Both South and North Korea use the name "Korea" in English. North Korea is sometimes called the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (DPRK) and South Korea the "Republic of Korea" (ROK). Groups such as the United Nations, International Olympic Committee, and media like the Associated Press and China Global Television Network (CGTN) use these official names.

In the past, English had many names for Korea, like "Cauli" and "Core." The spelling "Korea" first appeared in the late 1600s. Words like "Chosunese" were used in the late 1800s but are not used anymore.

Other languages

European languages use versions of "Korea" for both countries. Celtic and Romance languages often spell it "Corea." Most Germanic and Slavic languages use "Korea." In Russian, it is Корея.

Koreans abroad

People who moved to Russia and Central Asia call themselves Goryeoin or Koryo-saram. Many live in the CIS, such as in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. There are also many Koreans in China.

South Korean people living in the U.S. may call themselves jaemi gyopo or just gyopo.

Names of Unified Korean sporting teams

Main article: Unified Korean sporting teams § Names

Sobriquets of Korea

In traditional Korean culture and East Asian traditions, Korea has been called many different names over the centuries. Some of these names include:

• Gyerim, meaning "Rooster Forest", an early name for Silla.
• Gunjaji-guk, or "Land of Scholarly Gentlemen".
• Geumsu Gangsan, meaning "Land of Embroidered (or Splendid) Rivers and Mountains".
• Danguk, meaning "Country of Dangun".
• Daedong, meaning "Great East".
• Dongguk, meaning "Eastern Country".
• Dongbang, meaning "an Eastern Country" referring to Korea.
• Dongbang yeuiji-guk, meaning "Eastern Country of Courtesy".
• Dongya, meaning "Eastern Plains".
• Dong-i, meaning "Eastern Foreigners".
• Gu-i, meaning "Nine-i", referring to ancient tribes in the Korean peninsula.
• Dongto, meaning "Eastern Land".
• Baeguiminjok, meaning "The white-clad race".
• Samcheon-ri, meaning "Three thousand li", referring to the length traditionally attributed to the country.
• Asadal, an Old Korean term for Joseon.
• Cheonggu, or "Azure Hills". The color Azure is associated with the East.
• Paldo Gangsan, meaning "Rivers and Mountains of the Eight Provinces", referring to the traditional eight provinces of Korea.
• Geunhwahyang, meaning "Country of Mugunghwa" referring to the Silla Kingdom.
• Geunyeok, meaning "Hibiscus Territory", or Land of Hibiscus.
• Samhan, or "Three Hans", referring to the Samhan confederacy that ruled Southern Korea. Beginning in the 7th century, Samhan became synonymous with the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
• Haedong, meaning "East of the Sea" (here being the West Sea separating from Korea).
• Haedong Samguk, meaning "Three Kingdoms East of the Sea" refers to the Three Kingdoms of Korea.
• Haedong Seongguk, literally "Flourishing Eastern Sea Country", historically refers to the Balhae Kingdom of the north–south period.
• Jinguk, meaning "Shock Country", an old name of the Balhae Kingdom.
• Jinyeok, meaning "Eastern Domain".
• Jindan, meaning "Eastern Country of Dangun".
• Jinguk, meaning "Country of Early Morning", referring to the Jin state of the Gojoseon period.