Understanding Korean Naming Conventions, Titles, and Elders' Respect

Introduction to South Korean Culture

Naming Conventions in Korea

In the naming conventions of Korea, names are structured as follows: Family Name Personal Name. For example, KIM Min Su male or LEE Hyori female.

Each name is typically composed of three syllables. The first syllable represents the family name that has been passed down from one's father and shared among siblings. It's always placed before the personal name.

It's important to note that while most Korean surnames consist of a single syllable, there are exceptions such as HWANGBO, SEON-U, DOKGO, NAMGUNG which can be multi-syllabic.

Titles and Honors

Koreans use titles to indicate respect based on the age or social status of an individual. These titles follow the full name in Korean, typically looking like this: Family Name Personal Name Title. For example, KIM Minsu Ssi Mr. Minsu Kim. However, one can sometimes use a title attached to just the given name if they're being more casual.

The most common titles are 'ssi' and 'nim', which are ger-neutral terms roughly equivalent to Mr.Ms. 'Ssi' is used when addressing someone of the same age or social status. 'Nim', on the other hand, indicates a slightly higher level of formality, showing respect and politeness in formal settings.

Addressing Elders

Koreans refer to people older than them using terms like ‘unni’ older sister for women and ‘obba’ older brother for men. The practice is to avoid referring to elders by their family name alone without a title, which is considered uncommon or inappropriate.

Occupations and Roles

Names derived from an individual's profession are also common in Korea, often followed by the corresponding title like 'Sonsaeng' for teachers and 'Kyosu' for professors. Additionally, Koreans may refer to parents using their child's name out of familiarity and affection.

Multiple Names in Korean Society

Koreans might have several names deping on various contexts such as social situations, professional environments, family traditions, or even given names upon baptism. For example, they could have a school name, business name, English name, or a baptismal name. Typically, Koreans would informally indicate which name you should use when addressing them based on your relationship.

Cultural Atlas Team

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References

Han, S. 2005. Korean Family Names: A Comparative Study of Korean Society. The Korean Studies Association Journal.

UK Government 2006. Understanding Korea: Cultural and Social Aspects Guide for UK Visitors and Business Persons.

Lee, C. 2011. Naming Systems in Korean Culture: An Overview. International Journal of Asian Studies.

Kim, S. 2021. Korean Title System Explned: Formality and Contextual Use. Global Language Dynamics Blog.

: The Cultural Atlas team strives to provide accurate information but does not guarantee absolute correctness or completeness of any detls presented here.

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