Korean names explained: surnames, given names, spelling and how to address people
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Korean names look short and simple, but they work differently from English names in ways that cause small, avoidable awkwardness: calling someone by the wrong part of their name, assuming a married couple share a surname, or failing to recognise that Lee, Yi and Rhee can be the same name. This guide explains how Korean names are built and how to use them politely.
Family name first
A Korean name is written and said with the family name first, then the given name. In 김민준 (Kim Min-jun), Kim is the surname and Min-jun the given name. Most surnames are one syllable, and most given names are two, so a typical name is three syllables in all. A few two-syllable surnames exist, such as 남궁 (Namgung) and 제갈 (Jegal), and some given names have one or three syllables.
When Koreans write their names in English, some keep the Korean order and some switch to Western order, so "Minjun Kim" and "Kim Minjun" are the same person. If you are unsure which part is the surname, ask; nobody minds.
Why so many people are called Kim
A small number of surnames cover a very large share of the population. In the 2015 census, Kim was the surname of about 21.5 per cent of South Koreans, Lee about 14.7 per cent and Park about 8.4 per cent, so together the three covered roughly 45 per cent. Choi, Jung (Jeong) and Kang come next. The same census recorded more than 5,500 surnames in all, many of them recent, registered by naturalised citizens.
Surnames are further divided by bon-gwan (본관), the ancestral home of the clan, so a Kim from Gimhae and a Kim from Gyeongju belong to different lineages. People do not usually mention this in daily life, but it comes up in family records and conversations about ancestry.
Given names
Given names are usually two syllables and are often chosen for the meaning of the Chinese characters (hanja) behind them, though many parents now pick purely Korean words such as 하늘 (Haneul, sky) or 나래 (Narae, wings). In some families, siblings or cousins of the same generation share one syllable, called a generation name (돌림자), so brothers might be Min-jun and Min-ho.
Popular names change with each decade, so a name can hint at a person's age the way names do in English.
Why the spelling is all over the place
Korea has an official romanisation system, but people choose their own spelling for passports, and older spellings stick. So you will see:
- 이: Lee, Yi, Rhee, I
- 박: Park, Bak, Pak
- 최: Choi, Choe
- 정: Jung, Jeong, Chung
- 김: Kim (the official Gim is almost never used)
The given name might be written Minjun, Min-jun or Min Jun. All are fine. When booking anything official for a Korean friend, copy the spelling from their passport exactly.
Marriage does not change the name
Korean women keep their own surname after marriage. A woman called Lee Ji-eun who marries Mr Park is still Lee Ji-eun, so calling her "Mrs Park" is a mistake. Children traditionally take the father's surname; since a 2008 reform, couples can choose the mother's surname instead if they agree when they register their marriage, though that remains uncommon.
How to address people by name
- Never use the surname alone. Calling someone "Kim" or "Park" sounds rude and abrupt.
- Full name or given name plus -ssi (씨) is the neutral polite form for adults of similar standing: 민준 씨 or 김민준 씨. Do not attach -ssi to your own name.
- Titles replace names at work and with older people: 김 부장님 (Manager Kim), 박 선생님 (Teacher Park). Using an older person's given name on its own, even with -ssi, can feel too familiar.
- Close friends of the same age use the bare given name, often with -a or -ya added: 민준아, 지은아.
The existing guide on how Koreans address each other covers -nim, oppa, unni, sunbae and job titles in more detail.
English names
Many Koreans use an English name at international companies, language schools or with foreign friends. That is their choice to offer. If someone introduces themselves with their Korean name, use it, and make the effort to pronounce it well; people notice.
Have a question about a particular name, or a story about getting one wrong? Share it in the comments.