Korean Names Explained: Order, Spelling and How to Address People
Why so many Koreans are named Kim, Lee or Park, which part of a Korean name is the family name, why spellings vary, and how to address colleagues politely.
Korean names are short, usually three syllables, and follow a clear pattern. Knowing it helps you fill in forms, read business cards and address people politely.
Family name first
A typical Korean name like 김민준 (Kim Minjun) has two parts:
- Family name (성, seong): the first syllable, 김 (Kim).
- Given name (이름, ireum): the remaining syllables, 민준 (Minjun).
A few family names have two syllables, such as 남궁 (Namgung), 황보 (Hwangbo) and 제갈 (Jegal). Given names are usually two syllables, but one- and three-syllable given names exist.
In Korean, the family name always comes first. In English, people may write it either way: Kim Minjun or Minjun Kim. When filling in a form with “First name” and “Last name” fields, the family name goes in Last name.
Why so many Kims, Lees and Parks?
Korea has relatively few family names. Kim, Lee and Park alone account for roughly 45% of the population, and about one in five Koreans is a Kim. That's why Koreans rarely use the family name alone to identify someone. Families are further distinguished by their ancestral clan origin (본관, bon-gwan), such as the Gimhae Kims.
Why the same name is spelled differently
Korea's official Revised Romanization (2000) would write 이 as I, 박 as Bak and 김 as Gim. But most families had chosen English spellings long before, and those stuck: Lee, Park, Kim. Given names vary too: 정 can appear as Jeong, Jung or Chung.
The rule of thumb: use the spelling in the person's passport. To see the official spelling and the most common variant, try the Korean name romanizer.
Married names and children's names
- Korean women keep their own family name after marriage. A Mrs. Park may be married to a Mr. Kim.
- Children usually take the father's family name. Since 2008, parents can agree to give the mother's family name instead.
How to address people
Using someone's given name alone can feel too familiar in Korea, especially with older people or at work. Common polite forms:
| Form | Example | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Full name + 씨 (ssi) | 김민준 씨 | Polite, among peers or for people junior to you. Not for your boss. |
| Given name + 씨 | 민준 씨 | Friendly but polite, among colleagues of similar rank. |
| Job title + 님 (nim) | 팀장님 (team leader) | For managers and seniors at work. The safest choice. |
| Family name + title + 님 | 김 부장님 | To make clear which manager you mean. |
| Name + 님 | 민준님 | Common in startups, online communities and customer service. |
Never add 씨 to your own name. When you introduce yourself, just say your name: “저는 [name]입니다” (jeoneun [name] imnida, “I am [name]”).
Your own name in Korea
Foreign names are written in Hangul by sound on things like phone contracts and delivery apps, so “Michael” might become 마이클. Official records such as your Residence Card use the English name exactly as in your passport, so keep that spelling everywhere: bank, phone, insurance and payroll.