Korean Job Discussion Forums

[d-rail]

does anyone know the real reason that korea is somethimes with a c instead of a k? the korean teachers tell me that japan changed it because k comes after j. but that is the roman alphabet. neither japan nor korea origionally use the roman alphabet. to me, the answer sounds too typical...its japan's fault. well, if mexico tried changing the u.s.a. to a different name or spelling it would never fly on the world scene unless the u.s. allowed it. so does anyone know the real reason of Corea?

[billybrobby]

they spell it with a c because they can. i don't think there's any real reason why the k became standard and the c didn't.

[canuck in Ansan]

I heard that it's because it comes from French.

But Korea in French is la Cor�e. So I mean, it's all or none!

Korea + Cor�e = Corea? suuuure.

So yes, I'm also at a loss over this C issue.

[periwinkle]

I asked my husband about it once. He said something about because China was spelt with a "C", Korea had to use a "K". So another country beat them to the punch or something. I don't remember the specifics, just the general reason.

[RACETRAITOR]

Maps of the region from before Japanese domination showed Korea commonly spelled as "Corea." When Japan annexed Korea, they apparently wanted to come first alphabetically before the rest of the world. I think the main reason was for international sporting events, which is probably why you see Corea particularly during the World Cup.

[ajgeddes]

The belief that Japan changed it to C is not true. A lot of Koreans have even said that they think it is silly they always mention it as being because of that.

If you look at postage stamps from the late 1800's, they all spell Korea with a 'K'. However, back then they also used French on some of their stamps which uses a 'C'. So, basically it comes down to that people were confused about it because they probably thought everything written in this alphabet it English and then the myth has just been perpetuated to what we see now.

[flotsam]

Korea or Corea?

[VanIslander]

there's a thousand and one threads here at Dave's on that subject

use the "search" command and continue the conversation

[kermo]

[rocklee]

I think it might have something to do with Japan and China. For example, when learning Japanese we usually use ka, ki, ku, ke and ko (there is also kyo, kyu). Which could well be derived from a language once shared between China, Korea and Japan. I also think using Cs to pronounce Ks is a western thing.

On the other hand, I don't understand Chinese or Korean so I've no idea if they have anything in common.

[Hater Depot]

The Germanic languages use a K. The Romance languages use a C. But Koreans consider English to be (in a sense) the only European language, so they either don't know or don't care that there are actually more languages using a C.

[dogbert]

[kprrok]

Also, what most people either don't know or disregard, Japan doesn't want their name to be "Japan" in English...they want it to be "Nippon". All Nippon Airways? So either way, Korea would come first if it were with a K or a C.

But honestly, who cares?

KPRROK

[rocklee]

[flotsam]

If you guys follow the link I posted and read what can be found there(and review the source materials), you would learn that the issue doesn't really require this much discussion.