Like most asian people their last name came from their early tribes and many groups of people they belong to, its not actually their last name more of a clan name
From 668 Korea only had 6 clan names, and only noblemen were allowed to use them. In the Koryo dynasty king Wang Geon gave out names quite liberally and expanded the number of names, many of which were imported from Chinese clan names.
Come the age of Neo-Confucianism, we get clans with Yangban status, comparable to Confucian officials in China who had passed the keju examinations.
Now here's why there's so few Korean last names today: in the Joseon dynasty it became possible to buy the right to use any clan name. So naturally everyone who could afford to bought the right to use high-class yangban clan names like Kim or Park.
Source: Korea: The Impossible Country by Daniel Tudor, 128-131
timnamyte on February 26th, 2018 at 13:27 UTC »
Like most asian people their last name came from their early tribes and many groups of people they belong to, its not actually their last name more of a clan name
El_Hefe_Ese on February 26th, 2018 at 15:36 UTC »
There was a Smiths cover band called The Nguyens because apparently that surname is as popular in Vietnam as Smith is in England/US.
Edit: TIL Nguyen is the OG Smith
Tokyo2199 on February 26th, 2018 at 15:45 UTC »
From 668 Korea only had 6 clan names, and only noblemen were allowed to use them. In the Koryo dynasty king Wang Geon gave out names quite liberally and expanded the number of names, many of which were imported from Chinese clan names.
Come the age of Neo-Confucianism, we get clans with Yangban status, comparable to Confucian officials in China who had passed the keju examinations.
Now here's why there's so few Korean last names today: in the Joseon dynasty it became possible to buy the right to use any clan name. So naturally everyone who could afford to bought the right to use high-class yangban clan names like Kim or Park.
Source: Korea: The Impossible Country by Daniel Tudor, 128-131