Why Do Many Koreans Share Common Surnames?

For avid K-drama watchers, a recurring question might have surfaced: “Why do so many characters share the same last names?” Names like Kim, Lee, Park, and Choi frequently appear across various series, leading to some confusion for international viewers accustomed to a broader diversity of surnames.

This phenomenon roots deeply in Korean history, necessitating a closer look at the origins and historical usage of these prevalent surnames.

Historically, ‘Kim (김)’ and ‘Park (박)’ are among Korea’s oldest surnames, tracing back over a thousand years. The founding monarch of the Silla Dynasty bore the name Kim, while Park was prominent within the Koguryo Dynasty. This tradition of children inheriting their father’s surname has continued through the ages, mirroring patterns seen worldwide.

During the periods of the Three Kingdoms and the Koryo dynasty, strategic marriage alliances were commonplace among royalty and the elite, leading to the proliferation of a few dominant surnames. This is why descendants from these royal and noble lineages commonly bear the surnames Kim and Park, originally linked to the ruling families of the Silla Dynasty.

Another significant surname from the Goryeo dynasty is ‘Wang (王).’ When the Lee (李) dynasty succeeded the Wang rulers, many Goryeo courtiers who were persecuted fled and changed their names to resemble ‘Wang.’ This partially explains the relative scarcity of the Wang surname in Korea despite its royal connections.

The Joseon dynasty (formerly romanized as Lee) saw a stark increase in slavery, with over half the population enslaved at certain points. Most slaves lacked surnames unless they originated from noble families. The abolition of slavery in 1894 led to many slaves adopting the surnames of their former masters. When Japan colonized Korea, they mandated Koreans adopt surnames, further solidifying the practice of adopting prominent clan names like Kim, Lee, or Park.

Traditionally, surnames before the 1700s were exclusive to the nobility (Yangban). What we now recognize as surnames were essentially clan names, and there was a strong cultural emphasis on preserving these names across generations. Despite there being over 533 surnames in Korea today, the surnames Kim, Lee, Park, and Choi remain disproportionately common.

It is crucial to note, however, that not all individuals bearing the same surname are necessarily related. Unlike in some cultures where a shared surname often denotes kinship, in Korea, a common surname may only indicate ancestral ties to a particular region. Until 1997, marital unions between individuals sharing a surname were legally banned. This law was deemed unconstitutional, and by 2005, the civil code was revised to only prohibit marriage between close relatives.

In summary, the prevalence of common surnames in Korea is a legacy of historical social structures and familial traditions, rather than an indication of widespread familial connections.