Popular Korean Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover the most prevalent Korean surnames, gaining insights into their rich history and cultural significance. This comprehensive list explores the meanings behind these common names, offering a deeper understanding of Korean genealogy and identity. From Kim and Park, the most ubiquitous surnames, to less familiar yet equally fascinating names, this resource serves as a valuable guide to the world of Korean last names.
1. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a precious substance. This is the most common surname in Korea, representing roughly 21% of the population. It is associated with strength, prosperity, and wealth.
2. **Park (박)**: Gourd, a symbol of abundance and resilience. The second most prevalent surname in Korea, accounting for about 14% of the population. It signifies fertility, good fortune, and longevity.
3. **Lee (이)**: Plum, a fruit associated with elegance, beauty, and grace. The third most frequent surname in Korea, comprising about 10% of the population. It is linked to refinement, elegance, and nobility.
4. **Choi (최)**: Best, superior, the most excellent. The fourth most widespread surname in Korea, representing about 8% of the population. It signifies achievement, success, and excellence.
5. **Jung (정)**: Correct, upright, virtuous. The fifth most common surname in Korea, accounting for about 7% of the population. It symbolizes righteousness, integrity, and moral excellence.
6. **Kang (강)**: Strong, sturdy, resilient. The sixth most frequent surname in Korea, comprising about 6% of the population. It signifies power, strength, and resilience.
7. **Yoo (유)**: Flow, fluidity, graceful movement. The seventh most prevalent surname in Korea, representing about 4% of the population. It embodies smoothness, grace, and harmony.
8. **Yang (양)**: Sheep, a gentle and peaceful animal. The eighth most widespread surname in Korea, accounting for about 3% of the population. It signifies gentleness, kindness, and peace.
9. **Moon (문)**: Gate, a passageway to new possibilities. The ninth most frequent surname in Korea, comprising about 2% of the population. It symbolizes opportunity, growth, and progress.
10. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a precious substance. This surname is also widely found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Kim" surname. It carries the same connotations of wealth and prosperity.
11. **Han (한)**: One, single, unique. The eleventh most common surname in Korea, representing about 2% of the population. It emphasizes individuality, uniqueness, and self-reliance.
12. **Oh (오)**: Five, a number symbolizing completeness. The twelfth most prevalent surname in Korea, accounting for about 1.5% of the population. It denotes wholeness, perfection, and fulfillment.
13. **Shin (신)**: God, deity, divine being. The thirteenth most widespread surname in Korea, representing about 1% of the population. It signifies spirituality, faith, and divine intervention.
14. **Seo (서)**: West, direction, a new horizon. The fourteenth most frequent surname in Korea, comprising about 1% of the population. It embodies exploration, adventure, and new beginnings.
15. **Cho (조)**: Bird, soaring, freedom. The fifteenth most common surname in Korea, representing about 1% of the population. It signifies aspiration, freedom, and creativity.
16. **Bae (배)**: Pear, a sweet and delicious fruit. The sixteenth most prevalent surname in Korea, accounting for about 0.8% of the population. It symbolizes sweetness, happiness, and contentment.
17. **Jeon (전)**: All, complete, encompassing. The seventeenth most widespread surname in Korea, representing about 0.7% of the population. It signifies completeness, wholeness, and unity.
18. **Yoon (윤)**: Brightness, brilliance, illumination. The eighteenth most frequent surname in Korea, comprising about 0.6% of the population. It embodies enlightenment, knowledge, and wisdom.
19. **Go (고)**: High, elevated, noble. The nineteenth most common surname in Korea, representing about 0.5% of the population. It signifies prestige, status, and nobility.
20. **Song (송)**: Pine tree, longevity, perseverance. The twentieth most prevalent surname in Korea, accounting for about 0.4% of the population. It symbolizes resilience, enduring spirit, and strength.
21. **Hwang (황)**: Yellow, imperial, a precious color. The twenty-first most widespread surname in Korea, representing about 0.3% of the population. It signifies royalty, authority, and power.
22. **Jeong (정)**: Correct, upright, virtuous. The twenty-second most frequent surname in Korea, comprising about 0.3% of the population. It symbolizes righteousness, integrity, and moral excellence.
23. **Na (나)**: Me, myself, individual. The twenty-third most common surname in Korea, representing about 0.2% of the population. It emphasizes self-reliance, individuality, and personal strength.
24. **Cha (차)**: Tea, a drink symbolizing peace and tranquility. The twenty-fourth most prevalent surname in Korea, accounting for about 0.2% of the population. It embodies calmness, serenity, and harmony.
25. **Lee (이)**: Plum, a fruit associated with elegance, beauty, and grace. This surname is also widely found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Lee" surname. It carries the same connotations of refinement and elegance.
26. **Sim (심)**: Heart, mind, soul. The twenty-sixth most widespread surname in Korea, representing about 0.1% of the population. It signifies emotion, feelings, and inner strength.
27. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a precious substance. This surname is yet another variation found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Kim" surnames. It carries the same connotations of wealth and prosperity.
28. **Ahn (안)**: Safety, security, peace. The twenty-eighth most frequent surname in Korea, comprising about 0.1% of the population. It embodies protection, security, and tranquility.
29. **Ryu (류)**: Flowing water, gentle, graceful. The twenty-ninth most common surname in Korea, representing about 0.1% of the population. It signifies fluidity, harmony, and adaptation.
30. **Lee (이)**: Plum, a fruit associated with elegance, beauty, and grace. This surname is yet another variation found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Lee" surnames. It carries the same connotations of refinement and elegance.
31. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a precious substance. This surname is another variation found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Kim" surnames. It carries the same connotations of wealth and prosperity.
32. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a precious substance. This surname is another variation found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Kim" surnames. It carries the same connotations of wealth and prosperity.
33. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a precious substance. This surname is another variation found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Kim" surnames. It carries the same connotations of wealth and prosperity.
34. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a precious substance. This surname is another variation found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Kim" surnames. It carries the same connotations of wealth and prosperity.
35. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a precious substance. This surname is another variation found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Kim" surnames. It carries the same connotations of wealth and prosperity.
36. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a precious substance. This surname is another variation found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Kim" surnames. It carries the same connotations of wealth and prosperity.
37. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a precious substance. This surname is another variation found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Kim" surnames. It carries the same connotations of wealth and prosperity.
38. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a precious substance. This surname is another variation found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Kim" surnames. It carries the same connotations of wealth and prosperity.
39. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a precious substance. This surname is another variation found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Kim" surnames. It carries the same connotations of wealth and prosperity.
40. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a precious substance. This surname is another variation found in Korea, though it is less common than the other "Kim" surnames. It carries the same connotations of wealth and prosperity.