The Chosen Government Railway's public identity changed a number of times over the 39 years that it existed.
In the first four years of its existence, its name changed three times to reflect the rapid changes in Korea's political environment between 1905 and 1910.
Later, for eight years Korea's railways were managed by the South Manchuria Railway - which was almost a state-level actor in the region on its own - before finally regaining its independence for the last twenty years of its life.

1906 – 1909: National Railway (統監府鐵道, Tōkanfu Tetsudō; 통감부 철도, Tonggambu Cheoldo)
1909 – 1910: Korea Railway (韓國鐵道, Kankoku Tetsudō; 한국철도, Hanguk Cheoldo)
1910 – 1917: Chosen Government Railway (朝鮮總督府鐵道, Chōsen Sōtokufu Tetsudō; 조선총독부 철도, Joseon Chongdokbu Cheoldo)
1917 – 1925: South Manchuria Railway (南満州鉄道, Minami-Manshū Tetsudō; 남만주 철도, Nammanju Cheoldo)
1925 – 1945: Chosen Government Railway (朝鮮總督府鐵道, Chōsen Sōtokufu Tetsudō; 조선총독부 철도, Joseon Chongdokbu Cheoldo)
The Chosen Government Railway's public identity changed a number of times over the 39 years that it existed. In the first four years of its existence, its name changed three times to reflect the rapid changes in Korea's political environment between 1905 and 1910. Later, for eight years Korea's railways were managed by the South Manchuria Railway - which was almost a state-level actor in the region on its own - before finally regaining its independence for the last twenty years of its life.
1906 – 1909: National Railway (統監府鐵道, Tōkanfu Tetsudō; 통감부 철도, Tonggambu Cheoldo)
1909 – 1910: Korea Railway (韓國鐵道, Kankoku Tetsudō; 한국철도, Hanguk Cheoldo)
1910 – 1917: Chosen Government Railway (朝鮮總督府鐵道, Chōsen Sōtokufu Tetsudō; 조선총독부 철도, Joseon Chongdokbu Cheoldo)
1917 – 1925: South Manchuria Railway (南満州鉄道, Minami-Manshū Tetsudō; 남만주 철도, Nammanju Cheoldo)
1925 – 1945: Chosen Government Railway (朝鮮總督府鐵道, Chōsen Sōtokufu Tetsudō; 조선총독부 철도, Joseon Chongdokbu Cheoldo)
Chosen Government Railway