Nalgaeset Hangul Input System

Nalgaeset is a Korean input method software for Microsoft Windows. It mainly consists of both a self-contained text editor and a universal IME for the operating system. The two programs share the common library, and support virtually every Windows platform from 95/NT4 to 10 of any languages, both 32- and 64-bit.

Unlike other IMEs, Nalgaeset is extremely customizable. It can be used to design and use virtually any Hangul input methods one can imagine for either PC or mobile device. What you can configure include individual key layout, input mode selection method, backspace key behavior, complex automata that actually make up the whole Hangul composition logic, and even more!

However, not every concept of this software has been documented in English yet. Internationally, Nalgaeset has been most popular for merely supporting Romaja (Romanized) Hangul input, which is the most straightforward method for non-Korean users. (Mac OS natively supports it, but Windows doesn’t.) But remember: it is only a very small set of features Nalgaeset can offer!

This software is a freeware that has been developed for more than a decade by one programmer. The latest version is 10.7 released on April 29, 2024.

Download: Ngs1070Setup_x86.msi (3.10MB) / Ngs1070Setup_x64.msi (3.96MB)

Pick the only one package that matches your machine architecture—either 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64).

• The installation dialogs are in Korean, but installed programs will basically speak in English by default if run under non-Korean Windows. If it’s not so, follow the instructions below.
• Installing a newer version automatically removes the old version. Multiple versions cannot coexist under the same operating system.

In addition, please note:

• Make sure to deselect Nalgaeset from the system’s default input language before upgrading or uninstalling it. Windows is the most merciless operating system as long as updating of a running program is concerned.
• Since this program does not contain any digital signature, the operating system and antivirus software may mark it as dangerous, and even prevent you from downloading, installing, and/or properly using it. Please take care to cope with such external behavior.

Questions and comments about my program are welcome via my e-mail (sebulsik at gmail) in both English and Korean.

Survival Guide

Using Romanized method

Since the version 10.21, Nalgaeset IME can be configured to use the Romanized input method during the installation procedure.
You will be asked what to do with the input configuration, as depicted below:

All what you need to do is to select the third item, Hangul Romanization method for foreigners, and choose Next. That's it once for all!
Unlike previous versions, struggling with Nalgaeset Control Panel is no longer necessary!

In Romanization method:

1. You can type ‘sarang’ to input ‘사랑’, ‘hangeul’ to input ‘한글’. Similarly, ‘daligi’ will yield ‘달리기’, and ‘taexi’ ‘택시’.
2. To manually separate syllables, just type the next initial with Shift key, as the dialog option above suggests. For example, press Shift+I (sing-il) to yield ‘싱일’ rather than ‘신길’ (singil).
3. Press left Shift+Space to switch between Hangul and Latin mode. You can redefine not only mode switch keys but also Hanja conversion keys so that you can use such features with a keyboard that doesn’t have native Hangul and Hanja keys. See Shortcut Keys category that belongs to Editor Layer.

Important note for Windows XP users

Contrary to what one may think of, this software contributes nothing to the operating sysetm’s native support for Korean script. The system must have the East Asian script support installed through the Control Panel before Nalgaeset can serve as a Korean IME.

Important note for Windows 8 (and later) users

Windows 8 (and later) has Modern UI that in some circumstance employs so strict security policies that it’s not even possible for an IME to share its own configuration between processes.

Before Nalgaeset can offer Romanized input under Modern UI-based Windows store apps, please make sure at least one or more “desktop apps” that use Nalgaeset IME are kept running in advance.

Changing the language, just in case

1. Open the Start Menu, find the folder 날개셋 한글 입력기(Nalgaeset Hangul Input System), and run 날개셋 편집기(Nalgaeset Editor).
2. A dialog asking about font extraction may appear, but it’s ignorable by clicking No.
3. Press Alt+T, O (도구, 옵션 / Tool, Options) to open the Options dialog.
4. Press Alt+L (언어), open the combo box and pick 영어 (English).
5. Close the dialog by clicking 확인 (OK). The editor program will immediately use English, while the IME will use English for next programs launched from now on.

You may also close Nalgaeset Editor if it’s no longer needed. Please note that, however, the help document is still not available in English yet.