You're watching a K-drama or looking at a K-pop group's lineup, and you start to notice something... a lot of people are named Kim, Lee, or Park. It's not just your imagination. Get this: almost half of the entire population of South Korea has one of those three last names.
Imagine if nearly every other person you knew in the West was named Smith, Jones, or Williams. It's a wild concept, and it points to the super interesting and unique history behind Korean surnames.
So, what's the deal? The answer lies in how last names were born in the first place.
Everyday Life vs. Royal Gifts: The Origin Story
In many English-speaking cultures, last names often popped up organically from a person's life. They were like nicknames that stuck.
Your Job? You're a Smith (blacksmith) or a Baker.
Where you live? You're Hill or Ford (near a river crossing).
Your dad's name? You're Johnson (son of John) or MacDonald (son of Donald).
This is why there are thousands of different last names in the West—they came from everyday life.
But in Korea, the story is totally different. For centuries, having a last name wasn't for everyone. It was a status symbol, a privilege granted by kings to royalty and powerful aristocratic families. These names were tied to a family's ancestral hometown, known as a '본관' (bon-gwan), creating different clans like the 'Gyeongju Kim' clan or the 'Jeonju Lee' clan.
Over time, commoners began to adopt these prestigious names to gain social standing, which is why a few "royal" names became incredibly popular.
Ready to meet the power players? Here are the top 10 most common Korean last names, with some of your favorite K-Pop idols who rock them.
The Top 10: Meet the Power Players
These are the most common surnames you'll see everywhere in the K-culture scene.
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Kim (김): The undisputed champion, making up over 20% of the population. The Hanja character (金) literally means “Gold.” A fitting name for K-pop royalty like BTS's V (Kim Taehyung) and BLACKPINK's Jennie (Jennie Kim).
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Lee (이): Coming in at a strong second place. The character (李) means “Plum Tree.” It’s the last name of iconic artists like Stray Kids' Lee Know (Lee Minho) and the legendary solo artist IU (Lee Ji-eun).
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Park (박): The final member of the "Big Three." The character (朴) means “Gourd.” The legend says the founder of the Park clan was born from a magical gourd! It’s repped by superstars like BTS's Jimin (Park Jimin) and BLACKPINK's Rosé (Park Chaeyoung).
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Choi (최): A powerful and noble-sounding name. The character (崔) means “High Mountain,” suggesting greatness. You'll see it on 4th gen leaders like TXT's Soobin (Choi Soobin) and ATEEZ's San (Choi San).
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Jeong (정): A classic and common name. The character (鄭) comes from the name of an ancient state in China. It’s the surname of charismatic idols like NCT's Jaehyun (Jeong Jaehyun).
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Kang (강): This name has a cool, strong vibe. The character (姜) is often associated with the word for “River” (강). It's the last name of solo superstar Kang Daniel.
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Jo (조): A name with deep historical roots. The character (趙) also comes from an ancient Chinese state name. It's the surname of the talented vocalist Jo Yuri.
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Yoon (윤): This name gives off a sophisticated, leader-like energy. The character (尹) means “to govern.” It’s the last name of SEVENTEEN's angel-voiced Jeonghan (Yoon Jeonghan).
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Jang (장): A name with a sharp and cool image. The character (張) can mean “to stretch a bow,” giving it an “Archer” vibe. It’s the surname of IVE's iconic center, Wonyoung (Jang Wonyoung).
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Lim / Im (임): A name with a calm, natural feel. The character (林) means “Forest.” It’s the last name of TWICE's vibrant lead vocalist, Nayeon (Im Nayeon).
Create Your Perfect Full Name
Now that you've explored the most iconic Korean last names, it's time to complete your identity!
If you've already found your perfect first name on myKname, pick your favorite surname from this list to create your complete Korean full name. Will you be a golden Kim, a noble Choi, or a cool Jang?
The choice is yours. Find your perfect name at myKname.kr