About this site

koreanlastnames.com is an independent reference for Korean family names. Every population figure on the site comes from the 2015 Population and Housing Census published by Statistics Korea (KOSIS), table 성씨·본관별 인구 (population by surname and clan seat), which counts surnames held by five or more people. Hanja readings and meanings follow standard Hanja dictionaries; clan (bon-gwan) information follows the major clan associations’ published genealogies.

Editorial approach

We count surnames by Hangul spelling, because that is how a name is written and heard in Korea. Where a syllable covers several Hanja we list each one. Romanizations are given in three forms — the spelling most families actually use, the government’s Revised Romanization and McCune–Reischauer — so that any spelling you encounter can be matched to its Korean form. We do not invent famous-person lists or clan histories; where a surname page has no origin or notable-people section, it is because we have not yet verified one.

Corrections

If you spot an error in a population figure, Hanja or meaning, please email hello@koreanlastnames.com with the surname page and the source you are checking against. Corrections are reviewed and applied within a week.