Did you know that in Korea, women keep their last names even after they get married? This is a key difference in Korean marriage name change customs compared to many Western and other countries. I became curious about why Korean women keep their last names, so I did a bit of research. Is it a sign of female independence, or something else entirely? Let’s dive into the fascinating history of Korean surnames I found!
The True Reason: The Korean Family Registry System (Hojuje)
The primary reason why Korean women keep their last names is rooted in the traditional Korean family registry system, known as ‘호주제’ (Hojuje). This system, based on Confucian patrilineal lines, was the law until it was abolished in 2005.
Under Hojuje, every Korean was part of a family registry headed by a male “head of household” (Hoju).
- A woman was born under her father’s family registry. Her surname identified her as belonging to his specific bloodline and clan (e.g., a “daughter of the Gyeongju Kim clan”).
- When she married, she was removed from her father’s registry and added to her husband’s registry.
- Crucially, her name itself was not changed. Her surname was her permanent, unchangeable identifier. Changing it would have been seen as severing her connection to her ancestors and her own bloodline, a concept that was unthinkable in traditional Korean society.
So, Korean women keep their last names not because of a modern feminist choice (though many support it for that reason now), but because the legal and social system never had a custom of women taking their husband’s names. Her name permanently marked her as a ‘daughter of the [Her Last Name] family,’ even as she became a ‘wife of the [His Last Name] family.’
How Language Reflects Culture
This concept of moving from one family to another is embedded in the language. In Korean, there are different expressions used for “getting married” depending on the gender.
- For men, the phrase is “장가가다” (janggagada) – literally “to go to the wife’s family (first).”
- For women, it’s “시집가다” (sijipgada) – literally “to go to the in-laws’ house.”
Historically, when parents arranged marriages, the man would often live with the woman’s family for a while. Once the woman was considered mature, the couple would move to the man’s house. This cultural practice influenced the use of verbs like “가다”(to go) when describing a woman’s marriage—she was “going” to a new family home.
Comparing Neighboring Countries
So, how does this compare with other Confucian-influenced countries like Japan and China?
- In Japan, a law from 1898 during the Meiji era required all families to use the surname of the head of the household. Today, Japanese law requires a married couple to share one surname (either the husband’s or wife’s). In reality, over 95% of women still take their husband’s surname.
- In China, Confucian and patriarchal values also influenced naming customs. In 1929, a law stated that a wife should add her husband’s surname to her own. But in 1950, China revised its marriage laws, granting couples the right to keep their own last names.
Unlike Japan and China, Korea has no such legal stipulation requiring a change. Historically, it was simply the accepted, unquestioned norm that women would keep their last names, and this has continued into modern times.
Is It About Respect or Discrimination?
This is the central debate. Do Korean women change their names after marriage? No. But was this a sign of respect or discrimination?
- The “Discrimination” Argument: Some argue that women were seen as “outside” members of the husband’s family. She was there to produce an heir for his bloodline, but she could never truly be part of his bloodline. Therefore, she couldn’t take his sacred family name.
- The “Respect” Argument: Others argue that it shows respect for her own family’s independence. Korea’s strong emphasis on family lineage and jokbo (genealogical records) played a role. Since family bloodlines were so important, it made sense to let daughters keep their last names to honor their own heritage. This idea seems most convincing to me.
Anthropologists and historians don’t have a definitive answer. However, it’s clear the history of Korean surnames is deeply tied to the preservation of bloodlines, and a woman’s name was her connection to her own.
The Modern View
➤ In short, why Korean women keep their last names isn’t necessarily a reflection of women’s authority or lack of it in the modern sense. Rather, it reflects Korea’s deep cultural emphasis on maintaining family lineage.
Today, this tradition is embraced for modern reasons. Many women see it as a natural sign of their own identity and independence. Not changing your name is also convenient, avoiding the hassle of legal paperwork.
It’s interesting to see how a tradition rooted in ancient patriarchy has evolved to become a symbol of modern identity.ting to see how different cultures handle marriage and family names in their own unique ways.
