Korean Job Discussion Forums

Holyjoe · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Location: Away for a cuppa

Something that occured to me here...

According to the CIA World Factbook, the "conventional long form" of the name is Republic of Korea and the "conventional short form" is South Korea.

Seems to me that no matter how you spell Korea/Corea/Gorea, it's still going to fall way behind China and Japan in any alphabetical listing Wink

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Location: Middle Land

Migook means BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY which comes from the two Chinese characters "Mi" (beautiful) and "Gook" (country).

The Chinese and Taiwanese also call America Meegook (but sounds like meigweioo).

VanIslander · Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 8:32 am Post subject:

Many of my students used to think it should be spelt "Corea" after all those World Cup 2002 banners. But, now, post-Olympics, even the newest students quickly spell it "Korea".

But "South Korea" obviously makes some uncomfortable, especially the older students who've said that mail often has written on it "Seoul Korea" instead (my director even recommended it for my correspondence with my home country), even though the letters are for down here on the southeast coast.

The unification vision will re-ignite the K/C controversy when the North's decidedly European "C" spelling will contend for the title.

There's background issues of cultural identity and affiliation at stake for them, I think.

Like my home province of British Columbia, Canada. Some want to take the "British" out, others only refer to "B.C." Some rename as Beautiful Coast and the like.

There's a lot in a name.

Yangkho · Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Location: Honam

There is absouletly no hard evidence that the Japanese changed the spelling. Ask somebody for specifics: who did it and when? Exactly who and exactly when? And how on Earth did they successfully petition all English-speaking nations to adopt the K-spelling?

Why would one country (whose national language is not English) worry about the spelling of another country in a foreign language?

If it really bothers them, they should change their English name to Goryeo.

But, of course, I'm a fool to waste so many words on this subject. This issue has nothing to do with rational thought patterns or logic.

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Rather_Dashing · Joined: 07 Sep 2004

In french it's already written Corea, I think.

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

ladyandthetramp · Joined: 21 Nov 2003

Some languages use a "c" and some use a "k" depending on how they generally transliterate foreign words into their language.

English generally uses a "k" with foreign words (unless they are from languages already using the same alphabet.) Using "c" is a waste, because we already need to use "s" and "k." It's not just the word "Korea."

Wisco Kid · Joined: 07 Sep 2004 Location: Changwon

Yes, Mi-gook comes from chinese characters and also sounds a lot nicer when pronounced in Mandarin: "Mei-guo"

I wonder did the chinese pick this name cuz they think america is a "beautiful country" or just because of the sound "mei" as in america?

riverboy · Joined: 03 Jun 2003 Location: Incheon

In a country where the president changed his name from Noh to Roh, anything goes. Personally, How about Gogorea or the Tangun republic.

batman · Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 6:54 am Post subject:

Or how about killing the whole C/G/Korea name and just teach non-Koreans how to say 'Dae Han Min Gook"?

English nicknames for people are dumb enough. Having one for a country borders on the same kind of lameness.