Romanization is not the same as pronunciation
The official Revised Romanization of Korean (2000) mostly writes what you hear, not letter by letter. That is why 신라 is written Silla and 독립 is dongnip. Two things are not shown in romanization:
- Tensing: 학교 sounds like [학꾜] but is written hakgyo.
- ㅢ: 희망 sounds like [히망] but is written huimang.
So this tool shows both: the romanization you would put on a sign or form, and the pronunciation in Hangul, with the rules that changed it.
Names
For personal names, turn on "Capitalize" and type the family name and given name separately (김 민수 → Gim Minsu). Many people keep a traditional spelling such as Kim or Lee in their passport. Always use the spelling on a person's official ID.
Reference: Revised Romanization of Korean, National Institute of Korean Language (korean.go.kr).
FAQ
Why is 김 written Gim, not Kim?
The official rule writes initial ㄱ as g. Kim is a long-established traditional spelling that many people still use for their name, and both are seen in practice.
Is the pronunciation always right?
The tool applies the main standard rules (linking, nasalization, liquidization, aspiration, palatalization, tensing). Some words need dictionary knowledge, such as ㄴ-insertion in compound words, so treat it as a strong guide, not a dictionary.