Embassy of Ukraine in Korea: Please Use 'Kyiv' Not 'Kiev'... Do Not Use Invader's Terminology

"Russian Pronunciation Notation... Pain and Hurt to Ukrainians"

Photo by the Embassy of Ukraine in Korea Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Jung-wan] The Embassy of Ukraine in Korea has requested that the names of its regions, currently transcribed in Korea according to the Russian pronunciation, be written closer to the Ukrainian pronunciation.

On the 1st, the Ukrainian Embassy in Korea posted on Facebook, "In light of the current Ukraine crisis, we earnestly ask that the names of Ukrainian places be transcribed using the Ukrainian pronunciation."

The embassy explained, "Ukraine is currently engaged in fierce battles against the invading Russian forces to protect its sovereignty. The invading country, Russia, is committing atrocities such as massacring Ukrainian civilians, bombing cities, and destroying Ukraine's cultural heritage. Furthermore, Russia is distorting and belittling Ukraine's language, history, and culture in an attempt to seize Ukraine's sovereignty."

It continued, "In this situation, the fact that the names of various Ukrainian regions are being transcribed in Korea using the Russian pronunciation, the language of the invading country, has caused great wounds and pain to Ukrainians. Therefore, in light of the current Ukraine crisis, we earnestly ask that the names of Ukrainian places be transcribed using the Ukrainian pronunciation."

Along with this, the embassy shared an image indicating that the Russian pronunciations of nine Ukrainian regions are 'incorrect expressions' and provided the Ukrainian-style transcriptions.

Photo by Embassy of Ukraine in Korea Facebook capture

According to the embassy, the capital of Ukraine, 'Kiev,' is a Russian-style expression, and the Ukrainian-style expression is 'Kyiv.'

Also, the 'Crimean Peninsula,' annexed by Russia, should be 'Krym Peninsula,' and the city known as the second largest, 'Kharkov,' should be 'Kharkiv.'

Meanwhile, on the 2nd, the National Institute of the Korean Language stated, "According to the foreign language transcription rules, both Russian and Ukrainian transcriptions are possible, and for the Ukrainian transcription, 'Kiiyu' is appropriate for the capital."

On the same day, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government is reviewing a plan to change the current method of transcribing Ukrainian place names solely based on the Russian pronunciation to either using the Ukrainian pronunciation or using both the existing and Ukrainian transcriptions together.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "We are working closely with the National Institute of the Korean Language regarding the transcription of names such as Kiev. Since immediately switching to only the Ukrainian pronunciation could cause confusion, we are considering options such as using both transcriptions for the time being."

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