SC22/WG20 N876

From: Kyongsok KIM

Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2001 4:41 AM

Comments regarding DPRK's delta file (SC22/WG20 N867)

Doc #: GG203

Title: Comments RE the delta file for DPRK

Source: KIM, Kyongsok, Busan National University, S. Korea

gimgs@HANGEUL.pnu.edu

Status: Expert Contribution

Action: For consideration by JTC1/SC22/WG20 at Malvern, USA

Date: 2001-09-27

There are several issues regarding the delta file for DPRK.

1. Background

1.1 Ordering rule of Hangeul letters

- Two Koreas have different ordering rules of Modern Hangeul letters.

- At least in S. Korea, and probably in N. Korea too, the ordering rule of Old Hangeul letters is not well established.

1.2 ISO TS 11941: Transliteration of Korean script into Latin

- ISO TS (Technical specification) 11941 deals with Transliteration of Korean script into Latin.

- For vowel letters, we have one unified method.

- However, there are two methods for consonantal letters:

. Method I: proposed by North Korea (e.g., KTP)

. Method II: proposed by South Korea (e.g., GDB)

- If ISO TS 11941 is not changed to IS by the end of 2002, then it will automatically become obsoleted according to ISO directives.

1.3 Naming Hangeul letters and syllables

- Names of Hangeul letters mostly follow Method I (NK).

. This was decided in 1992.

- Names of Hangeul syllables follow Method II (SK).

. This was decided in 1995 or so.

2. Issues to be discussed outside of WG20

2.1 To be discussed within JTC1/SC2/WG2 and Korean script ad hoc group

2.1.1 We need to set up a principle of ordering, at least within UCS, Old Hangeul letters to be newly added into UCS. This principle may or may not eventually become a standard ordering rule in one or both Koreas.

2.1.2 We need to set up a principle of naming, at least within UCS, Old Hangeul letters to be newly added into UCS. This principle may or may not eventually become a standard Transliteration in one or both Koreas.

2.1.3 We propose that DPRK provide supporting documents for the several Old Hangeul letters that they suggested to add to UCS.

2.2 To be discussed within TC46/SC2

We need to set up a Transliteration of Hangeul letters into Latin. Once such a rule is finalized, it can be used in naming Hangeul letters to be added newly into UCS.

If ISO TS 11941 does not become IS by the end of 2002, it will become obsoleted. Considering that, we need to take one of two paths:

a) make TS 11941 IS without any change as soon as possible; OR

b) unify the two methods for consonantal letters and make TS 11941 IS.

Otherwise, we will probably have to start from scratch to set up a naming principle (i.e., Transliteration), which will take fairly long time.

2.3 To be discussed between two Koreas

We propose that, if possible at all, both Koreas set up a unified ordering rule of both Modern and Old Hangeul letters, which will be used for the delta file for both Koreas.

3. From the viewpoint of WG20

3.1 As long as modern Hangeul letters are correctly handled in the delta,

that seems sufficient for the time being.

- We propose that we should not discuss the ordering rule of Hangeul letters within WG20. We only need to implement the rule in the delta file, once an ordering rule is established in one or both Koreas (see 4).

3.2 We propose that we should not discuss the Transliteration of Hangeul letter within WG20. We only need to use the Transliteration rule for the comments in the delta file, once a Transliteration rule is established (see 2.2.1).

4. In SK, we will include the delta for NK as an annex in KS version of ISO/IEC 14651. The delta file for N Korea in the KS deals with only modern Hangeul letters.

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