Initial sound rule

North Korea orthography does not recognize this rule, making it one of a number of North–South differences in the Korean language.

As confirmed in literature from as early the 16th century, pronunciation of these Sino-Korean words had been nativized enough that these new sounds began to be reflected.

Thus, professor emeritus Ryeo Jeoung-dong (Ko: 려증동)'s claim that the initial sound rule and the final consonant notation was first organized in the Korean spelling system for elementary schools in 1912 during the Japanese colonial period is not true.

Professor emeritus Ryeo Jeoung-dong of the Department of Korean Literature at Gyeongsang National University is South Korea's representative proponent of the abolition of the initial sound rule.

North Korea does not adhere to the rule today except in a few cases, and instead uses the earlier spellings of the Sino-Korean vocabulary.

The poster of March 1960 South Korean presidential election . Note that the surname Lee (hanja: 李 , written as " 이 " in South Korea today) of Syngman Rhee and Lee Ki-poong were still printed as " 리" .
The flag hung at the founding ceremony of the Korean People's Army in 1948 reads, 'Long live General Kim Il-sung , the leader of our people!' During the North's brief use of the initial sound rule, the Sino-Korean term "領導者" (leader) is spelled using the initial sound rule: 영도자 yeongdoja instead of ryeongdoja 령도자 .