[KS] Romanization tendencies in the West

[Gari Keith Ledyard]

To the well-reasoned statement by Joy Kim speaking to the library
dimension of the romanization issue, we should add the consequences of
changing romanization in all matters geographic and cartographical.
Although it took the U.S. government and the National Geopgraphic Society
longer than it should have, by the mid 1950s McCune-Reischauer was well
established on maps and in atlases and gazeteers.  International map
publishers have followed the lead, and at present we have relatively good
order in the realm of place names on maps.  It would not be wise to throw
an investment of nearly half a century into chaos by changing the
romanization.  Korea has decided to go its own way, and there is nothing
that we can do to stop that.  But we have our own traditions and our own
responsibilities, and they impel us to maintain consistency.
	In the broader realm and more to the point of Anthony's question,
I have not noticed any significant movement in the direction of the Korean
system insofar as Western Korean studies are concerned.  The senior and
mid-life Korean specialists in the West seem to be staying with McC-R.
What is not certain is the attitude of the younger scholars.  But for the
time being, I would say that books on Korean matters written for Western
audiences can safely stick with McC-R and not lose currency.  The
linguists, for very good reasons, will continue to use the Yale system,
which would also be a good system to use in email communication.

Gari Ledyard

On Thu, 28 Feb 2002, Brother Anthony wrote...

> ...
> In only vague connection with this query, I would be very grateful for any helpful comments on
> the current and prospective future international use of the "new" romanization system, having
> recently become involved with helping prepare a book in English designed for overseas use which
> writes all the names of 20th-century Korean writers in the new way. Should I be preparing to
> publish volumes of work by Go Eun rather than Ko Un?
>
> Please note, I am not asking what people think of the system but whether it is being adopted
> seriously outside of Korea.
>
> Brother Anthony
> Sogang University, Seoul
>