The Most Common Surnames in Korea: A Peek into Korean Identity

Ranking	Last Name	Incidence	Letters
1	Kim	6767955	3
2	Ri	3283228	2
3	Pak	1896450	3
4	Choe	1600129	4
5	Kang	1019342	4
6	Han	782285	3
7	Hong	580788	4
8	Jang	533376	4
9	Jong	414848	4
10	Jo	391143	2
11	Rim	379290	3
12	An	367437	2
13	Jon	343731	3
14	O	331879	1
15	Cha	331879	3
16	Song	308173	4
17	Jeong	296320	5
18	Ju	284467	2
19	Hwang	272615	5
20	Paek	260762	4
21	Shin	237056	4
22	Mun	237056	3
23	Ro	225203	2
24	Lee	225203	3
25	Baek	213351	4
26	Li	213351	2
27	Choi	213351	4
28	Heo	201498	3
29	Son	189645	3
30	Yun	177792	3
31	Jeon	165939	4
32	Ryu	154087	3
33	Go	142234	2
34	Cho	142234	3
35	Hyon	130381	4
36	Jung	130381	4
37	Seo	118528	3
38	Gwon	118528	4
39	Yang	118528	4
40	Ryang	118416	5
41	Park	106675	4
42	So	106675	2
43	Chang	106675	5
44	Nam	106675	3
45	Hyeon	106575	5
46	Kwon	94822	4
47	Ko	94822	2
48	Chon	94822	4
49	Yu	94822	2
50	Sin	94822	3
51	Ahn	94822	3
52	Jin	94822	3
53	Chae	49	4
54	Sim	49	3
55	Ji	49	2
56	Won	49	3
57	Byeon	36	5
58	Chong	36	5
59	Ham	36	3
60	Ha	25	2
61	Wang	25	4
62	Bang	25	4
63	Chu	25	3
64	Gu	16	2
65	Pae	16	3
66	Lim	16	3
67	Phyo	16	4
68	Tae	16	3
69	Kwak	16	4
70	Chol	16	4
71	Sung	16	4
72	Pang	16	4
73	Oh	16	2
74	Ho	16	2
75	Sen	16	3
76	Gye	16	3
77	Ryo	9	3
78	Sun	9	3
79	Seok	9	4
80	Cheon	9	5
81	Tong	9	4
82	Pyon	9	4
83	Ma	9	2
84	Gil	9	3
85	Ra	9	2
86	Om	9	2
87	Tak	9	3
88	Myong	4	5
89	Chin	4	4
90	Eom	4	3
91	Woo	4	3
92	U	4	1
93	Kye	4	3
94	Gwak	4	4
95	Wong	4	4
96	Min	4	3
97	Sol	4	3
98	Ung	4	3
99	Kyong	4	5
100	Im	4	2
101	Bae	4	3
102	Chen	4	4
103	No	4	2
104	Idu	1	3
105	Ok	1	2
106	Jean-baptiste	1	13
107	Maeng	1	5
108	Seung	1	5
109	Oon	1	3
110	Gung	1	4
111	Yong	1	4
112	Sop	1	3
113	Sok	1	3
114	Hyun	1	4
115	Gong	1	4
116	Hui	1	3
117	Myung	1	5
118	Dong	1	4
119	Yoon	1	4
120	Pyo	1	3
121	Seong	1	5
122	Chi	1	3
123	Yeom	1	4
124	Joo	1	3
125	Ru	1	2
126	Bin	1	3
127	To	1	2
128	Yon	1	3
129	Kong	1	4
130	Baik	1	4
131	Yeon	1	4
132	Koh	1	3

The Most Common Surnames in Korea

South Korea is famous for its rich culture, history, and traditions. It is an amazing country with a lot to explore and experience. One of the most important aspects of any culture is its surnames. In Korea, there are over 280 surnames, but some are more common than others. In this article, we will be discussing the most common surnames in Korea.

The Top 5

The top five surnames in Korea are Kim, Lee, Park, Choi, and Jung. These surnames make up more than 50% of the Korean population. This means that if you ask any Korean about their surname, there is a high chance that one of these five surnames will be the answer.

Kim

The most common surname in Korea is Kim. This surname is written as 김 in Korean and is pronounced as keem. It is estimated that over 10 million Koreans have this surname. The origin of the name is not entirely clear, but there are some theories that suggest it may come from the word for gold or from ancient tribes in Korea. Kim is a common surname among both North and South Koreans.

Lee

The second most common surname in Korea is Lee. This surname is written as 이 in Korean and is pronounced as ee. It is estimated that over 7 million Koreans have this surname. The origins of the name are unclear, but it is believed that it may have come from Chinese characters or from ancient tribes in Korea. Lee is a common surname among both North and South Koreans.

Park

Number three on the list of most common surnames in Korea is Park. This surname is written as 박 in Korean and is pronounced as bahk. It is estimated that over 4 million Koreans have this surname. The origins of the name are unclear, but some theories suggest it may come from the ancient Goguryeo kingdom or from the word for earthenware. Park is a common surname among both North and South Koreans.

Choi

Choi is the fourth most common surname in Korea. It is written as 최 in Korean and pronounced as choi. It is estimated that over 2.5 million Koreans have this surname. The origins of the name are unclear, but some theories suggest it may come from the ancient Silla kingdom or from the word for shield. Choi is a common surname among both North and South Koreans.

Jung

Jung is the fifth most common surname in Korea. It is written as 정 in Korean and pronounced as jung. It is estimated that over 2 million Koreans have this surname. The origins of the name are unclear, but some theories suggest it may come from the ancient Baekje kingdom or from the word for gentle. Jung is a common surname among both North and South Koreans.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these are the top five most common surnames in Korea. Although there are many other surnames, these five are the most prevalent and frequently heard during conversations. Knowing about these surnames can help you better understand and connect with Koreans and their culture.