![]() ![]() While traditional Korean naming practices are common (i.e.Kyong (brightness), Geon (strong), Cho (beautiful), Young (valiant). Many Korean given names are instilled with some significant meaning that symbolises aspirations and wishes for the child, e.g.Some parents may consult a shaman/fortune teller to find the luckiest name for a child.Names may be chosen in accordance with a child’s birth date and time, as well as the number of strokes of the name in Korean characters, to assure it is auspicious.Therefore, Korean parents generally prefer to choose names that embody goodwill, prosperousness and have positive connotations in their meaning and sound. It is common belief that a good name brings luck, and an unfit name may bring bad luck.Most people will revert to using their original Korean name amongst family or when writing or speaking in Korean.For example, LEE Hyori may be known as “ Michelle”. Many Koreans have an ‘English name’ that they use in international and English-speaking contexts.However, this is very rare unless the person is living overseas. For example, if LEE Hyori married KIM Min Su, she may be known as Hyori LEE-KIM. Some married Korean women may adapt to English-Western naming practices by using their husband’s (or both) family names.For example, KIM Min Su may be known as Min Su KIM. This may involve reversing the arrangement of their given name and family name to suit English-Western naming conventions.Many Koreans use a ‘westernised’ version of their original Korean name to adapt to international and English-speaking contexts.The romanisation system most widely used is the ‘Revised Romanization of Korean’. ![]() For example, LEE may also be spelt RHEE, YI, LI, RI, LEIGH, REE, RHI or NI. There are many different ways to represent these characters in English, which can result in the same Korean name being written with many different spelling variations. Be aware that Korean names written in the Roman alphabet have all been transcribed from the original Korean or Chinese characters.Women do not change their legal names at marriage.There are no spaces between a person’s family name and given name when written in the Korean alphabet ( hangul), e.g. 김민수 ( KIM Min Su).Single syllable given names exist, but are uncommon (e.g.Hyori) to clearly indicate that it is one name. However, it is advisable to write both words as a single unit (e.g. For example, 효리 could be written Hyori, Hyo Ri or Hyo-ri. The two syllables/characters of the given name may be written together, hyphenated or divided into two.For example, LEE Hyori (이효리) may have sisters named LEE Yuri and LEE Aeri, in which case ‘ Ri’ (리) is the generation name. The other is a generation name that is typically shared by all siblings of the same gender within a family. Traditionally, one component/character of a person’s given name is a unique name chosen at birth as the individual’s personal identifier.The concept of a ‘middle name’ is not followed in South Korea. Both components of the personal name are considered to be a single unit. The given name (or ‘personal name’) usually contains two syllables/characters.It always comes before the given name and is usually a single syllable/character. The family name (or ‘surname’) is inherited patrilineally from one’s father and shared with other siblings. ![]() For example, in the name KIM Min Su (김민수), KIM is the family name. The first is the family name while the second and third are the given name.
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