Why Are So Many People in Korea Named Kim? What To Know About Korean Last Names & How They Are Changing!

As a foreigner navigating life, love, and family in Korea, I found the history and structure behind Korean names endlessly fascinating. So let me take you on a journey into Korean surnames: why so many people are named Kim, Lee, or Park, what those names really mean, and how even first names have a deep-rooted cultural backstory that connects generations. Trust me, you’ll be fascinated too.

Get ready to learn about Korean names, why there are so many Kim’s, and why there are more and more new last names in Korea:

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Korean Names: A Quick Breakdown

Before we go further, here’s something helpful to know: Korean names traditionally consist of two parts—the family name (last name) and the given name (first name), with the family name coming first. Most Korean family names are one syllable, though there are rare two-syllable exceptions like Namgung (남궁) or Seonwoo (선우). The given name is typically two syllables, and each syllable can have deep cultural and familial meaning.

Korean women do not change their surnames after marriage, and children usually inherit their father’s surname. But what makes names really interesting in Korea is the combination of surnames, bon-gwan, and generational naming traditions.

A team of soccer players all with the last name Kim

What’s a Bon-gwan and Why Does It Matter?

So here’s where things get more layered. Let’s say you meet two friends, both named Kim. Are they cousins? Probably not. That’s because Korean surnames are subdivided by bon-gwan (본관), which indicates the ancestral home or clan origin.

For example:

Gimhae Kim (김해 김) originates from Gimhae.
Gyeongju Kim (경주 김) traces its roots back to Gyeongju.

Even though both friends are “Kim,” their bon-gwan distinguishes their family trees, and traditionally, people with the same surname and bon-gwan were not allowed to marry, even if they weren’t actually related. That law was changed in 2005, by the way, in case you’re wondering.

Fun Fact: As of a 2000 census, there were 286 Korean family names split across 4,179 clans. That means there are hundreds of unique “types” of Kims alone!

image of a classroom with a teacher in front talking and students with their hands raised to answer a question, on their shirts, different Korean last names including _Kim_, _Park_, _Lee_, _Jeong_.

Common Korean Surnames

Every 15 years, the Korean government conducts a nationwide name survey, and the results consistently show that Kim, Lee, and Park are basically running the show. If you’ve ever watched a sports game or Korean tv show, you’ve probably noticed this yourself already.

Fun Fact: During the 2022 World Cup, South Korea’s defense lineup had five players—all with the last name Kim. No, they weren’t related.

According to the most recent data from 2015:

Kim (김) – 10.6 million people (21.5%)
Lee (이) – 7.3 million people (14.7%)
Park (박) – 4.1 million people (8.4%)
Choi (최) – 2.3 million
Jung/Jeong (정) – 2.1 million
Kang (강) – 1.1 million
Cho/Jo (조) – 1.05 million
Yoon/Yun (윤) – 1.02 million
Jang (장) – 992,000
Im/Lim (임) – 823,000

Fun Fact: There’s a popular joke that says, “If you throw a stone in Seoul, it’ll probably hit a Kim.” With nearly half of the population carrying just three surnames, it’s really not an exaggeration. Disclaimer: This is just a saying. Do NOT come to Seoul and start throwing stones.

The Evolution of Surnames

While Kim, Lee, and Park dominate the scene, Korea has over 5,500 surnames now, thanks to evolving demographics and multicultural families. In fact, between 2000 and 2015, the number of surnames jumped by nearly 800%!

Here are some rare gems:

Gae (개) – 86 people
Jeup (즙) – 86 people
Ya (야) – 180 people
Sobong (소봉) – 18 people
Kwog (궉) – 248 people (written with an old Chinese character for “phoenix”)
Mongol Kim and Taeguk Tae – new clan names reflecting foreign origins (Mongolia and Thailand respectively)

Fun Fact: The surname Sam (삼) has just 49 people. It means “three,” and first appeared in South Gyeongsang Province in the 1960s.

National Museum of Korean Contemporary History (대한민국역사박물관), Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea; view of Gyeongbokgung Palace from above

Where Do These Names Come From?

The story of Korean surnames goes way back, think royal courts, ancient dynasties, and class systems. During the Silla Dynasty (57 BC–935 AD), only aristocrats had surnames. But during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), things started to shift. As people sought social and economic advantages, many commoners adopted the names of powerful clans in their regions.

Then, during Japanese colonial rule (1910–1945), the government required every Korean to have a surname. With many from lower classes never having one before, people borrowed names like Kim, Lee, or Park from the most powerful families in their area. Over time, those names stuck and became the norm.

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Korean Given Names: What’s in a First Name?

We’ve talked a lot about last names, but what about first names?

Traditional Korean given names are usually two syllables, and here’s how they’ve been historically structured:

One syllable is the generational syllable. This shows the person’s generation and is shared among siblings or cousins in the same generation. If you’ve taught English in Korea, you’ve likely noticed this when you teach siblings.
The second syllable is unique to the individual.

The generational syllable is often chosen by the bon-gwan or determined through Saju (사주), a traditional fortune-telling method. The name might be chosen by the family elder or even by a professional namer at a jakmyeongso (작명소), a naming center that analyzes your birth chart.

Example: If two brothers are named Jun-seo and Jun-ho, the shared “Jun” would be the generational syllable.

Fun Fact: Because generational syllables are often based on Hanja, as pure Korean names rise in popularity, younger generations are less familiar with the traditional naming system. Korean names, like the culture itself, are always evolving.

Korean Traditional Wedding: American wife & Korean husband in traditional Korean Hanboks

Marriage Laws & Changing Traditions

Here’s something you might not know: Until 2005, it was illegal in Korea for two people with the same last name and bon-gwan to marry, even if they weren’t closely related. The law was rooted in Confucian ideas about family lineage but eventually amended due to the… awkwardness. It’s important to note how important the bon-gwan is. My parents-in-law actually do have the same last name and were married in 60s, but they were able to show that their clans were different.

The Rise of New Korean Names

With South Korea becoming increasingly multicultural, the list of surnames is actually still growing, especially among naturalized citizens. Since 2008, thousands of foreigners who’ve gained Korean citizenship have registered new last names or adopted existing ones with a twist.

In 2023 alone, over 7,000 naturalized foreigners created or registered surnames, up from just 3,193 in 2008. Most of these new names borrow from traditional Korean surnames like Kim, Lee, or Park, but with a new bon-gwan to reflect their roots.

For example:

Mongol Kim reflects Mongolian origins.
Taeguk Tae draws from the word for Thailand (태국).

Fun Fact: Naturalized citizens often create their own surnames or register under Korean surnames with new bon-gwan. Many of these new names aren’t created right away but rather when children from multicultural families begin school. Why? To help them better fit in and reduce potential discrimination.

Wait… Can You Create a Korean Last Name?

Technically, yes! When foreigners naturalize in Korea, they can choose to adopt an existing Korean surname, complete with their own new bon-gwan to represent their origin story. So, while it’s still relatively rare, the diversity of surnames is growing thanks to Korea’s changing demographics.

Surnames in Korea are more than just identifiers, they’re windows into the country’s history, social structure, and even colonization. Today, they’re evolving again. From personalized naming services based on Saju (Korean fortune telling) to global Koreans adopting or modifying names, Korean surnames continue to reflect personal identity and heritage.

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