My name is ‘박정우’ (Jeongwoo Park). Since Koreans place their last name first, my surname is ‘박’ (Park). Most Korean surnames are just one syllable. But this leads to a question you’ve probably had: Why are most Korean last names ‘Kim, Lee, or Park’?
According to Statistics Korea, there are 5,582 surnames in the country. Yet, something seems odd. Are all these people with the most common Korean surnames related?
Today, let’s dive into the fascinating history of Korean surnames to find the reasons behind this.
The Dominance of Major Surnames (The Statistics)
According to Statistics Korea, the Kim Lee Park percentage of the entire South Korean population is staggering:
- 김 (Kim): 21.5% (Over 10.6 million people)
- 이 (Lee): 14.7% (Over 7.3 million people)
- 박 (Park): 8.4% (Over 4.1 million people)
These three surnames alone make up 44.6% of the entire Korean population. The surname ‘김’ (Kim) is so prevalent that 1 in 5 Koreans has this last name! With 5,582 different surnames, why do only three dominate? To understand this, we need to look at history.
The Historical Origins of Royal Surnames
Around the 1st century BC, Korea was divided into three central kingdoms: ‘고구려(Goguryeo), 백제(Baekje), and 신라(Silla). This period is known as the Three Kingdoms era.
During this time, surnames were not for everyone. They were an exclusive privilege granted by the king, or adopted by the founders of royal dynasties.
- The Park (박) family name was founded by the first king of Silla, ‘박혁거세’ (Park Hyeokgeose), who (according to legend) was born from a gourd-shaped egg (bak in Korean).
- The Kim (김) family name in Silla was founded by ‘김알지’ (Kim Alji), a figure (according to legend) found in a golden box (geum means ‘gold’). His descendants later became kings of Silla.
- The Lee (이) family held noble status across all three kingdoms and, most importantly, became the royal family name during the establishment of the ‘조선’ (Joseon Dynasty) in 1392 (founded by ‘이성계’ Yi Seong-gye).
In short, ‘김,’ ‘이,’ and ‘박’ were the most powerful and prestigious family names, associated with royalty and the highest levels of political influence for over a thousand years.
The Core Concept: ‘Bon-gwan’ (The Clan System)
This is the most important part of the history of Korean surnames you must know. A “Kim” is not just a “Kim.”
Every Korean surname is tied to a ‘본관’ (Bon-gwan), which means “clan origin” or “ancestral hometown.” This system is the key to understanding the Kim Lee Park percentage.
For example:
- 김해 김씨 (Gimhae Kim): This means you are a Kim from the Gimhae clan (founded by King Suro).
- 경주 김씨 (Gyeongju Kim): This means you are a Kim from the Gyeongju clan (descended from the Silla royalty).
A Gimhae Kim and a Gyeongju Kim are not related. They are completely different families that just happen to share the surname “Kim.”
The 10.6 million Kims in Korea are divided into over 300 different, unrelated clans. The same goes for Lees (the Jeonju Lee clan of the Joseon royalty is the largest) and Parks (the Miryang Park clan is the largest).
This Bon-gwan system is why, until 1997, two Koreans with the same surname and same Bon-gwan were legally forbidden from marrying, even if they were complete strangers. They were considered “family.”
The Spread: How 3 Surnames Became 45% of Korea
So, if surnames were only for royalty, how did half the country get them?
For most of the Joseon Dynasty, the vast majority of the population (commoners, serfs, and slaves) did not have a surname. They were referred to by just their given names or occupations. Having a surname was the ultimate symbol of high social status.
Over time, especially after the mid-Joseon period, the rigid class system began to break down.
- Buying Status: Wealthy commoners and merchants began to buy noble status. This often included illegally purchasing a jokbo (a formal genealogy book) from an impoverished noble family, thereby adopting their surname and bon-gwan.
- The 1894 Gabo Reform: A significant turning point came in 1894. As part of modernization, the rigid class system was officially abolished. Commoners were finally allowed to adopt a surname.
- The 1909 Census: When it came time for a modern census, everyone had to have a surname.
When given the choice, what name would you pick? A new, unknown name? Or the name of the kings and nobles you’ve respected for centuries?
Most commoners chose the most prestigious names available: Kim, Lee, and Park. It was a way to instantly gain social standing. This mass adoption is the main reason why Korean last names Kim Lee Park are so overwhelmingly common today.
So, Are All Kims, Lees, and Parks Related?
➤ The prevalence of ‘김,’ ‘이,’ and ‘박’ is no coincidence—it’s the result of this unique historical and social desire for status.
It’s also worth noting that not everyone with the same last name is related. As the Bon-gwan system shows, they are from hundreds of different clans.
On the other hand, people with rare surnames might have “purer” bloodlines in the sense that their surname hasn’t been as widely adopted. It’s not uncommon for them to discover they’re distantly related when they talk.
