Korean clans are groups of Korean people that share a paternal ancestor. They are indicated by the combination of a bongwan () and a family name. Although commonly called bongwan, the term used in South Korean law is bon ().
Korean clans distinguish families that share their family name. The bongwan identifies descent groups by geographic location of origin. For example, the Gyeongju Kim and the Gimhae Kim are considered different families. They share the family name Kim but have different bongwan: Gyeongju and Gimhae. Some families share a bongwan and trace their origin to a common paternal ancestor but are considered distinct. For example, the Gimhae Kim clan and the Gimhae Heo clan share Suro of Geumgwan Gaya as their common paternal ancestor.
The bongwan and the surname are passed on from a father to his children to denote paternal lineage. A bongwan does not change by marriage or normal adoption. A clan name is not considered part of a Korean person's name; it can be considered rude to call a person by their clan name.
Families in Korea have one of the most meticulous and comprehensive systems of ancestry tracking in the world. Still, counts of surnames and clan names differ. The population and housing census of 2000 conducted by Statistics Korea found 286 surnames and 4,179 clans, while the 2015 census reported 1,507 surnames and 36,744 family clans.
History The Korean bongwan system was adapted from the Chinese family clan system. It is assumed to have been created around the late Silla and early Goryeo period as a result of Silla's sinicization policies. Taejo of Goryeo promoted the bongwan system to stably distribute a growing population and create a basis for tax revenue, whilst putting an end to the obsolete bone-rank system.
Numerous clans were created throughout local administrations of all sizes and statuses. Almost all Koreans, including the Yangmin and Cheonmin caste, identified with a bongwan from the early Goryeo to the Joseon period. A bongwan affiliated with a prosperous region was widely seen as a source of personal pride, while members from a lesser or impoverished bongwan often sought to escape their genealogical status. Changes in administrative divisions profoundly influenced the merging or creation of various clans.
During the mid-to-late Joseon Dynasty, poor Koreans (commoners and members of the "surname-less class") acquired surnames by purchasing the right to adopt them. Some even fabricated family trees (jokbo) to claim ancestry from prestigious clans. This phenomenon was influenced by government policies related to slaves and a desire to elevate their social status. By the time that the Joseon class system was officially abolished in 1894, nearly all Koreans had a surname.
Restrictions on marriage and adoption Traditionally, a man and a woman in the same clan could not marry, so the combination of the bongwan and the family name of a husband had to differ from that of a wife. This restriction was ruled unconstitutional by the South Korean Constitutional Court in 1997. Surname and a bongwan does not change on marriage.
In South Korea, when adopting a child as a plenary adoption, the adopted child takes the family name and the bon of the dominant (patrilineal or matrilineal) side of the parent.
When adopting a child as a ordinary adoption, which does not terminate the child's relations with the birth parents, the family name and the bon of the adopted child does not change.
Creation or adoption of a bongwan Under the South Korean law, a new surname and a bon may be established with the permission of the family court. This procedure is available to a naturalized Korean citizen who uses a non-Korean surname, as well as to a person whose exact lineages are unknown.
If a naturalized Korean citizen wishes to found a surname and a bon, they need to first get a permission of a family court, and found a surname in a Family Relation Registration Office. If the naturalized Korean citizen gained a permission of a family court but did not found a surname and a bon within a month of gaining a permission, an administrative fine of up to 50,000 won could be imposed.
The determination of a surname and bon for a person whose parents are unknown is left to the discretion of the family court. When the person was found in Seoul, the court generally designates it as 'Hanyang,' where in 1996 it was reported that over 90% of the children who was abandoned in 1995 in Seoul had the bon of Hanyang. If the person discovers their birth father or mother after establishing a surname and a bon, they may adopt the surname and bon of that father or mother.
Parents can change an child's family name for the child's welfare. In this case, the parents must visit a family court to request permission to change the family name.
List
SurnameSeal EnglishHangul Hanja Progenitor(s)(sijo)Population in South Korea (2015)Ref.Kim Gimhae Kim clan김해 김씨 金海 金氏 Suro of Gaya 경주 김씨 慶州 金氏 Kim Alchi Gwangsan Kim clan광산 김씨 光山 金氏 Kim Hŭngkwang Andong Kim clan안동 김씨 安東 金氏 Kim SuksŭngKim Sŏnp'yŏng 김녕 김씨金寧 金氏Kim Sihŭng 의성 김씨義城 金氏Kim SŏkGangneung Kim clan강릉 김씨江陵 金氏Kim Chuwŏn선산 김씨善山 金氏청풍 김씨淸風金氏Kim TaeyuYonan Kim clan연안 김씨延安 金氏Kim Sŏmhan삼척 김씨三陟 金氏Kim Ch'u상산 김씨商山 金氏Kim Su청도 김씨淸道 金氏Yi Jeonju Yi clan전주 이씨 全州 李氏 경주 이씨 慶州 李氏 성주 이씨星州 李氏Yi Sunyu광주 이씨廣州 李氏Yi Chasŏng전의 이씨全義 李氏Yi ToYonan Yi clan연안 이씨延安 李氏Yi Mu한산 이씨韓山 李氏Yi Yunkyŏng함평 이씨咸平 李氏Yi Ŏn영천 이씨寧川 李氏Yi Munhan합천 이씨陜川 李氏Yi Kae성산 이씨星山 李氏Yi Nŭngil벽진 이씨碧珍 李氏덕수 이씨 德水 李氏 Yi Tonsu Park Miryang Park clan밀양 박씨 密陽 朴氏 Pak Ŏnch'im 함양 박씨咸陽 朴氏Pak Ŏnsin반남 박씨潘南 朴氏Pak Ŭngchu순천 박씨順天 朴氏Pak YŏngkyuChoi Gyeongju Choi clan경주 최씨 慶州 崔氏 Ch'oe Ch'i-wŏn 전주 최씨 全州 崔氏 Ch'oe SunchakCh'oe KyunCh'oe KunokCh'oe A 해주 최씨海州 崔氏Ch'oe OnGangneung Choi clan강릉 최씨江陵 崔氏Ch'oe HŭnpongCh'oe P'iltalCh'oe MunhanJung 동래 정씨 東萊 鄭氏 Chŏng Hoemun 경주 정씨 慶州 鄭氏 연일 정씨延日 鄭氏Chŏng Chongŭn진주 정씨晉州 鄭氏Chŏng YeChŏng ChauChŏng ChangChŏng Hŏn하동 정씨河東 鄭氏Chŏng Tochŏng초계 정씨草溪 鄭氏Chŏng Paekŏl해주 정씨海州 鄭氏Chŏng SukKang 진주 강씨 晉州 姜氏 Kang I-sik Jo 창녕 조씨 昌寧 曺氏 Cho Kyeryong 한양 조씨 漢陽 趙氏 Cho Chisu Haman Jo clan함안 조씨咸安 趙氏Cho ChŏngPungyang Jo clan풍양 조씨豐壤 趙氏Cho MaengYoon 파평 윤씨 坡平 尹氏 Yun Sintal Jang Indong Jang clan인동 장씨 仁同 張氏 Chang Kŭmyong Im나주 임씨羅州 林氏Pyeongtaek Im clan평택 임씨平澤 林氏Im P'alkŭpPungcheon Im clan풍천 임씨 豊川 任氏 Im On Han Cheongju Han clan청주 한씨 淸州 韓氏 Han Ran Oh Haeju Oh clan해주 오씨 海州 吳氏 O Inyu Seo Dalseong Seo clan달성 서씨 達城 徐氏 Sŏ Chin Icheon Seo clan이천 서씨利川 徐氏Sŏ Sinil대구 서씨大丘 徐氏Sŏ HanShin Pyeongsan Shin clan평산 신씨 平山申氏 Sin Sung-gyŏm 고령 신씨高靈 申氏Sin SŏngyongYeongsan Shin clan영산 신씨 靈山 辛氏 Sin Kyŏng Gwon 안동 권씨 安東 權氏 HwangChangwon Hwang clan창원 황씨 昌原 黃氏 Jangsu Hwang clan장수 황씨長水 黃氏Hwang KyŏngPyeonghae Hwang clan평해 황씨平海 黃氏Hwang OninAhn Sunheung Ahn clan순흥 안씨 順興 安氏 An Chami Song Yeosan Song clan여산 송씨 礪山 宋氏 Song Yuik Eunjin Song clan은진 송씨恩津 宋氏Song TaewŏnJeon천안 전씨天安 全氏Chŏn SŏpChŏn Nak정선 전씨旌善 全氏Chŏn SŏpChŏn Sŏn담양 전씨潭陽 田氏Chŏn TŭksiHong Namyang Hong clan남양 홍씨 南陽 洪氏 Hong Ch'ŏnhaHong Sŏnhaeng Ko제주 고씨 濟州 髙氏 Moon 남평 문씨 南平 文氏 Mun Tasŏng Yang남원 양씨南原 梁氏Yang Uryang제주 양씨濟州 梁氏Cheongju Yang clan청주 양씨 淸州 楊氏 Yang Ki Son밀양 손씨密陽 孫氏Son Sun경주 손씨 慶州 孫氏 Son Sun Bae성주 배씨 星州 裵氏 Pae Wichun Baek Suwon Baek clan수원 백씨 水原 白氏 Paek Ukyŏng HeoYangcheon Heo clan양천 허씨 陽川 許氏 Hŏ Sŏnmun NamYeongyang Nam clan영양 남씨 英陽 南氏 Kim Ch'ung GwakHyeonpung Gwak clan현풍 곽씨 玄風 郭氏 Kwak Kyŏng MinYeoheung Min clan여흥 민씨驪興 閔氏Min Ch'ingtoYooMunhwa Yoo clan문화 류씨 文化 柳氏 Ryu Ch'atal Jeonju Yoo clan전주 류씨全州 柳氏Ryu SeupGangneung Yoo clan강릉 유씨江陵 劉氏Yu ChŏnYu Sŭngpi기계 유씨杞溪 兪氏Yu SamchaeJin Yeoyang Jin clan여양 진씨 驪陽 陳氏 Chin Ch'onghuMoHampyeong Mo clan함평 모씨 咸平 牟氏 Mo Kyŏng Kyung청주 경씨淸州 慶氏Bok면천 복씨 沔川 卜氏 Pok Chikyŏm Gyeon황간 견씨 黃澗 甄氏 Ajagae
See also Ancestral home (Chinese) Chinese kin Korean clan names of foreign origin Korean name List of Korean surnames Place of origin
Footnotes
References
External links List of Korean clans (in Korean)