What’s In A Name? South Korea Rethinks What It Calls North Korea | Here's Why

Last Updated:May 01, 2026, 17:09 IST

The confusion stems from South Korea’s belief that the whole Korean Peninsula belongs to it and that North Korea is not a separate country, but a region that broke away

On a calm spring morning in central Seoul, a group of academics and lawyers met to discuss what seems like a simple question — what should South Korea call North Korea? But the issue isn’t as easy as it sounds, and it has been widely debated in recent years.

The confusion stems from South Korea’s belief that the whole Korean Peninsula belongs to it. From this point of view, North Korea is not a separate country, but a region that broke away and may one day reunite with the South.

Because of this, South Korea calls North Korea “Bukhan," which means “North Han." It uses a similar name for itself, “Hanguk," meaning “Han nation," taken from its official name, the Republic of Korea.

North Korea uses a different name for itself. It calls itself “Joseon," which comes from its full official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

In the same way, it refers to South Korea as “Namjoseon," which means “South Joseon." This shows that North Korea also sees the peninsula as one country, but under its own system and identity.

This long-standing way of thinking — which comes from the division of Korea after the Korean War ended in 1953 — is now starting to change.

Recently, South Korea’s unification minister, Chung Dong-young, has begun using North Korea’s full official name. In January, he said that the South Korean government respects North Korea’s system. Then in March, he even suggested calling the relationship between the two sides “Han–Jo relations," combining the names each side uses for itself, The Guardian reported.

These changes show a shift toward recognizing North Korea more as a separate state, rather than just a part of one unified Korea.

The ministry organised a conference this week to see what people think about possibly using North Korea’s official name. At the event, Vice-Minister Kim Nam-jung said that the way a country names the other side reflects how it sees them and what kind of relationship it wants.

“When language and institutions that recognise and respect the other’s reality are supported," he said, adding “we can break the cycle of confrontation and expand the space for peaceful coexistence", as quoted by The Guardian. 

Since coming to power, President Lee Jae Myung has taken a softer and more friendly approach toward North Korea. He says South Korea should respect the North’s system, avoid trying to take it over, and stay away from actions that could increase tension. He has also said that the two sides should not see each other as enemies.

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