What Is Chosongul?
Chosongul is a name, not a separate script. 조선 (Joseon) is North Korea's word for Korea, as in its official name, and 글 means "writing" or "script". 한글 follows the same pattern with 한, the root of 한국, South Korea's name for Korea. Compare the two names in detail on the page about the meaning of Hangul.
The English spelling Chosŏn'gŭl uses McCune-Reischauer romanization, which North Korea's own romanization is based on. The South's Revised Romanization would write Joseongeul.
How Does Chosŏn'gŭl Differ from South Korean Hangul?
Chosŏn'gŭl differs from South Korean Hangul in three concrete ways: letter order, letter names and spelling rules. North Korea's rules are set out in 조선말규범집 (Korean Language Norms); South Korea's come from the National Institute of Korean Language.
- Letter order. South Korean dictionaries put each double consonant right after its basic letter: ㄱ ㄲ ㄴ ㄷ ㄸ…. North Korean dictionaries list the basic consonants first and the five double consonants after them; words that begin with silent ㅇ are usually placed after the double consonants, sorted by their vowel. The South Korean sequence is taught in Korean alphabet order.
- Letter names. North Korea uses regular names on one pattern: 기윽, 디읃 and 시읏 for ㄱ, ㄷ and ㅅ. South Korea keeps three older, irregular names: 기역, 디귿 and 시옷. All South Korean names are listed in Korean consonant names.
- Initial ㄹ and ㄴ. South Korea applies the initial sound law (두음법칙), which changes ㄹ and ㄴ at the start of some Sino-Korean words. North Korea does not, so its spellings keep the original letter.
Chosŏn'gŭl vs Hangul
The table compares the two systems attribute by attribute.
| Attribute | Chosŏn'gŭl (North Korea) | Hangul (South Korea) |
|---|---|---|
| Name of the script | 조선글 | 한글 |
| Modern letters | 40 (same set) | 40 (same set) |
| Name of ㄱ | 기윽 | 기역 |
| Double consonants in dictionaries | after all basic consonants | after each basic letter |
| Word for "labour" | 로동 | 노동 |
| Surname 李 | 리 | 이 |
| Alphabet day | 15 January | 9 October (Hangul Day) |
Examples of North and South Spellings
- 로동 / 노동 ("labour"): the North keeps initial ㄹ.
- 녀자 / 여자 ("woman"): the North keeps initial ㄴ before ㅕ.
- 력사 / 역사 ("history"): the North keeps initial ㄹ again.
These pairs are spelling differences, not different letters. Accent and vocabulary differences are a separate topic, covered under Korean dialects and, more broadly, North and South Korean differences.
Is Chosŏn'gŭl a Different Alphabet?
No. Learners often assume North Korea has its own script; actually both Koreas write with the alphabet created in 1443, and a reader of one can read the other at once. The differences above affect dictionaries, letter names and some spellings. This page describes those differences only; it does not compare the two countries' language policies.
Related Hangul Terms
- the meaning of Hangul: where the South Korean name comes from.
- Korean alphabet order: the South Korean sequence learners use.
- the Hangul terms glossary: all related definitions.
If you study from South Korean materials, treat Chosongul as useful background: same letters, different labels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do North Koreans say Hangul? Generally not. In North Korea the script is called 조선글 (Chosŏn'gŭl) or described as 조선어 자모, the letters of the Korean language. 한글 is the South Korean name, built on 한, the South's name for Korea. Both names refer to the same script, so a text written in either country uses identical letters.
Will a South Korean dictionary work for North Korean texts? Mostly, with some adjustments. Words are spelled almost the same, but entries are ordered differently, so you may look in the wrong place for words starting with double consonants or silent ㅇ. Some words also start with ㄹ or ㄴ in the North, such as 로동 and 녀자, which South dictionaries list as 노동 and 여자.
Should learners study the North Korean order? Only if you will use North Korean materials. Almost all textbooks, apps and dictionaries for learners follow the South Korean order and letter names, and South Korean standard Korean is the basis of the TOPIK exam. Learn the South Korean system first; the North Korean differences take an hour to learn later.
How is 조선글 pronounced? 조선글 is pronounced roughly cho-sun-geul, in three syllables: 조 (jo), 선 (seon) and 글 (geul). Revised Romanization writes it Joseongeul; McCune-Reischauer writes Chosŏn'gŭl, where the apostrophe shows that n and g belong to separate syllables. The ㅈ at the start is a soft j or ch sound.
