Before we finally proceed to our next lesson which is about KOREAN NOUN, let's have some fun for now to ease your mind to all the things you've learned so far.
Have you ever thought of the MOST FAMOUS KOREAN SURNAMES? As of year 2000, 286 Korean family names were in use. However, each family name is divided into one or more clans (bon-gwan: used to distinguish different lineages that bear the same surname) and in order to identify a person's family name, the identification of a person's clan is needed.
Take note that the given numbers were based on Estimated Distribution (Source: Wiki). And another thing: (S) denotes South Korea, while (N) denotes North Korea.
25 Most Common Korean Surnames
#1. 김 (Gim, Kim, Ghim, Kym, Keem) = 9,925,949
#2. 이 (S) / 리 (N) (I, Lee, Ri, Yi, Rhee, Ree, Rie, Rhie) = 6,796,227
#3. 박 (Bak, Pak, Park, Bahk, Pahk) = 3,895,121
#4. 정 (Jeong, Chŏng, Chung, Jung, Joung, Chong, Cheong, Choung) = 2,230,611
#5. 최 (Choe, Ch'oe, Choi, Che, Choy, Chwe, Chey) = 2,169,704
#6. 조 (Jo, Cho, Joe, Joh, Jou) = 1,347,730
#7. 강 (Gang, Kang, Kahng, Khang) = 1,169,805
#8. 장 (Jang, Chang, Jahng, Jhang) = 949,257
#9. 윤 (Yun, Yoon, Youn, Yune, Yeun) = 948,600
#10. 신 (Sin, Shin, Shinn, Sheen, Seen, Sinn, Cynn) = 911,556
#11. 한 (Han, Hahn, Hann) = 715,556
#12. 오 (O, Oh, Oe, Au, Ou) = 706,908
#13. 서 (Seo, Sŏ, Suh, Surh, Su, Sur, So, Seoh) = 695,249
#14. 권 (Gwon, Kwŏn, Kwon, Kweon) = 652,495
#15. 황 "Hwang" = 644,294
#16. 송 (Song, Soung) = 639,082
#17. 안 (An, Ahn, Arn, Aan) = 637,786
#18. 임 "Im" (S) / 림 "Rim" (N) = (Lim, Yim, Leem, Rhim) = 635,507
#19. 류(유) (Ryu, Ryou, Rou, Ryoo, Yu, Yoo, Yuh) = 603,084
#20. 홍 (Hong, Houng) = 518,635
#21. 주 (Ju, Chu, Joo, Choo, Chow, Jou, Zoo, Jew, Zu) = 515,010
#22. 양 "Yang" (S) / 량 "Ryang/Lyang" (N) = 486,645
#23. 유 "Yu" (S) / 류 "Ryu" (N) (Yoo, You) = 437,900
#24. 고 (Go, Ko, Koh, Goh, Kho, Gho, Kor) = 435,839
#25. 문 (Mun, Moon, Muhn) = 426,927
There you go, folks!
What's your favorite Korean family name? Leave your comment below.
YOU ARE READING
KOREAN FOR BEGINNERS
RandomThis is a Korean language guide for those who want to learn and improve their Korean language skills. You will also find some exercises at the end of each lessons, so feel free to answer them in the comment section below. I update this book almost e...
