Korean Last Names: A Comprehensive Guide

Korean last names, also known as surnames, play a crucial role in Korean culture and society. They are an integral part of Korean identity, reflecting lineage and family history. This comprehensive guide provides a detailed exploration of common Korean last names, offering insights into their origins, meanings, and cultural significance.
1. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a type of tree, noble, strong, firm, steady, high, shining. This is the most common Korean last name, representing approximately 21% of the population.
2. **Lee (이)**: Plum tree, willow tree, elegant, courteous, beautiful, graceful, refined. The second most common Korean last name, accounting for around 14% of the population.
3. **Park (박)**: Gourd, melon, pumpkin, melon vine, melon plant, squash. The third most common Korean last name, representing approximately 8% of the population.
4. **Choi (최)**: Best, excellent, superior, utmost, utmostly, highest. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
5. **Jung (정)**: Correct, right, righteous, just, proper, upright, honest, loyal. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
6. **Kang (강)**: Strong, powerful, mighty, solid, sturdy, firm, resolute, unyielding. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
7. **Yoo (유)**: Flow, current, drift, float, spread, distribute, circulate, move. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
8. **Yoon (윤)**: Bright, shining, brilliant, radiant, splendor, glory, magnificence. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
9. **Oh (오)**: Five, to come, to arrive, to reach, to attain. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
10. **Shin (신)**: New, fresh, recent, modern, novel, unusual, strange, unique. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
11. **Seo (서)**: West, book, document, writing, literature, art, calligraphy. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
12. **Cho (조)**: To assist, to help, to aid, to support, to back up. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
13. **Han (한)**: One, single, alone, solitary, unique, special. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
14. **Kim (김)**: Golden, metallic, a type of tree, noble, strong, firm, steady, high, shining. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
15. **Yang (양)**: Sheep, goat, abundance, plenty, prosperity, wealth. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
16. **Moon (문)**: Gate, door, entrance, way, passage, path, route, road. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
17. **Jeon (전)**: All, entire, whole, complete, total, full, perfect, absolute. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
18. **Son (손)**: Hand, arm, finger, paw, claw, talent, skill, ability. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
19. **Baek (백)**: White, pure, clean, innocent, clear, bright, shining, brilliant. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
20. **Jeong (정)**: Correct, right, righteous, just, proper, upright, honest, loyal. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
21. **Nam (남)**: South, male, man, gentleman, boy, youth, young, young man. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
22. **Lee (이)**: Plum tree, willow tree, elegant, courteous, beautiful, graceful, refined. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
23. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a type of tree, noble, strong, firm, steady, high, shining. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
24. **Park (박)**: Gourd, melon, pumpkin, melon vine, melon plant, squash. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
25. **Choi (최)**: Best, excellent, superior, utmost, utmostly, highest. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
26. **Jung (정)**: Correct, right, righteous, just, proper, upright, honest, loyal. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
27. **Kang (강)**: Strong, powerful, mighty, solid, sturdy, firm, resolute, unyielding. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
28. **Yoo (유)**: Flow, current, drift, float, spread, distribute, circulate, move. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
29. **Yoon (윤)**: Bright, shining, brilliant, radiant, splendor, glory, magnificence. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
30. **Oh (오)**: Five, to come, to arrive, to reach, to attain. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
31. **Shin (신)**: New, fresh, recent, modern, novel, unusual, strange, unique. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
32. **Seo (서)**: West, book, document, writing, literature, art, calligraphy. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
33. **Cho (조)**: To assist, to help, to aid, to support, to back up. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
34. **Han (한)**: One, single, alone, solitary, unique, special. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
35. **Kim (김)**: Golden, metallic, a type of tree, noble, strong, firm, steady, high, shining. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
36. **Yang (양)**: Sheep, goat, abundance, plenty, prosperity, wealth. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
37. **Moon (문)**: Gate, door, entrance, way, passage, path, route, road. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
38. **Jeon (전)**: All, entire, whole, complete, total, full, perfect, absolute. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
39. **Son (손)**: Hand, arm, finger, paw, claw, talent, skill, ability. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
40. **Baek (백)**: White, pure, clean, innocent, clear, bright, shining, brilliant. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
41. **Jeong (정)**: Correct, right, righteous, just, proper, upright, honest, loyal. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
42. **Nam (남)**: South, male, man, gentleman, boy, youth, young, young man. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
43. **Lee (이)**: Plum tree, willow tree, elegant, courteous, beautiful, graceful, refined. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
44. **Kim (김)**: Gold, metal, a type of tree, noble, strong, firm, steady, high, shining. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
45. **Park (박)**: Gourd, melon, pumpkin, melon vine, melon plant, squash. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
46. **Choi (최)**: Best, excellent, superior, utmost, utmostly, highest. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
47. **Jung (정)**: Correct, right, righteous, just, proper, upright, honest, loyal. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
48. **Kang (강)**: Strong, powerful, mighty, solid, sturdy, firm, resolute, unyielding. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
49. **Yoo (유)**: Flow, current, drift, float, spread, distribute, circulate, move. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.
50. **Yoon (윤)**: Bright, shining, brilliant, radiant, splendor, glory, magnificence. One of the most common Korean last names, representing approximately 4.5% of the population.