Hyemin Lee (Illustration by Hyemin Lee/Stripes Korea)

Korean names usually consist of three syllables: a one-syllable family name followed by a two-syllable given name. Three major surnames, Kim (21%), Lee (14%), and Park (8%), are shared by almost half of all Koreans.

However, having the same last name doesn’t mean everyone is related. Korean family names are divided into family clans tied to a specific ancestral region. For example, Kim from Gimhae and Kim from Gyeongju belong to different lineages. Family names are passed down paternally and Korean women don’t change their last names after marriage.

Ireum (Name) (Image by Stripes Korea)