Korean Name → English RR + traditional spellings · Apr 2026
Type your Korean name — get the official passport romanization plus traditional family-name spellings (Kim, Lee, Park, Choi).
Top 20 Korean Surnames
| Hangul | Traditional | RR | % Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 김 | Kim | Gim | 21.6% |
| 이 | Lee (Yi/Rhee) | I | 14.8% |
| 박 | Park (Pak) | Bak | 8.5% |
| 최 | Choi (Choe) | Choe | 4.7% |
| 정 | Jung (Jeong/Chung) | Jeong | 4.4% |
| 강 | Kang | Gang | 2.4% |
| 조 | Cho (Jo) | Jo | 2.1% |
| 윤 | Yoon (Yun) | Yun | 2.1% |
| 장 | Jang (Chang) | Jang | 2.0% |
| 임 | Lim (Im) | Im | 1.7% |
| 한 | Han | Han | 1.6% |
| 오 | Oh (O) | O | 1.5% |
| 서 | Seo (Suh) | Seo | 1.4% |
| 신 | Shin (Sin) | Sin | 1.4% |
| 권 | Kwon | Gwon | 1.3% |
| 황 | Hwang | Hwang | 1.3% |
| 안 | Ahn (An) | An | 1.2% |
| 송 | Song | Song | 1.2% |
| 전 | Jeon (Chun) | Jeon | 1.1% |
| 홍 | Hong | Hong | 1.1% |
Source: Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) 2015 census. Top 20 = ~76% of population.
📌 Official Sources · References
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Korean Passport Romanization Guide · Official rules for romanizing Korean names on passports (once registered, changing requires a separate application with supporting evidence)
- National Institute of Korean Language — Revised Romanization (RR, 2000) · Standard for romanizing Korean given names and surnames
- Supreme Court of Korea — Family Registry & Approved Hanja Characters · Hanja (漢字) for legal names is registered in the family registry (가족관계등록부); changes require family-court approval
- Korea National Law Information Center — Family Registry Act · Legal basis for Hangul·Hanja name registration and name-change procedures
This tool combines RR romanization with traditional Korean surname spellings (Kim, Lee, Park, Choi, etc.) commonly used on passports. For legal documents (passport, ARC, US embassy forms, court records), always use the spelling that already appears on your existing official Korean ID. Hanja (漢字) for given names is registered in the family registry and changes require court approval. Consult your local 구청·시청 (district/city office) family registry official for legal name matters.
FAQ
Why are Korean surnames spelled differently from RR?
Traditional surname spellings (Kim, Lee, Park, Choi, Lim, Yoon) predate the 2000 Revised Romanization (RR) and are recognized internationally. Korean passports allow either traditional or RR spelling — most Koreans choose the traditional form because it matches family records and existing official documents.
Which format should I use on passport?
Korean passports use 'SURNAME GIVEN-NAME' format, e.g., 'KIM MIN-JUN'. Each given-name syllable is hyphenated. The hyphen is optional but recommended for two-syllable given names. All caps on passport, mixed case on business cards.
Can I change my passport spelling later?
Yes, but with restrictions. The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs allows one-time spelling change to match international documents (work visa, bank account, family records). After the change, returning to original spelling typically requires showing harm caused by the new spelling.
What does 'hanja' mean for Korean names?
Hanja are Chinese characters used in Korean names. Most Korean names have a Hanja origin even though they're written in Hangul daily. Each Korean name syllable can correspond to multiple Hanja characters, each with different meaning. Parents choose specific Hanja for meaning (e.g., 민 can be 民=people, 敏=quick, 旻=autumn sky).
Does this tool show Hanja for any Korean name?
We show common meanings for popular name elements (민 준 서 윤 지 etc). Specific Hanja for an individual is recorded only in their family register (호적/주민등록) — to know which exact Hanja a person uses, ask them or check their official documents.