Korean names normally put the family name first and the given name second. In 김민지 (Kim Minji), 김 is the family name and 민지 is the given name. Korean names are usually written without a space in Hangul, but the family name and given name are separated when romanized: Kim Minji or Kim Min-ji. source
The structure is straightforward. The social use is not. Depending on the relationship, the same person might be addressed as 민지 씨, 김 팀장님, or simply 민지야. Korean forms of address reflect roles and familiarity, not age alone.
Family names usually come first
Most Korean personal names have a one-syllable family name followed by a two-syllable given name:
- 김민지 — family name 김; given name 민지
- 박준호 — family name 박; given name 준호
- 이서연 — family name 이; given name 서연
Not every name has three syllables. A given name may have one syllable, as in 김준, or occasionally more than two. A small number of family names have two syllables, including 남궁 (Namgung), 황보 (Hwangbo), and 제갈 (Jegal). In 남궁민, 남궁 is the family name and 민 is the given name.
You therefore cannot always divide an unfamiliar name correctly by counting syllables. If the distinction matters, check an official record or ask the person.
Why English spellings vary
Under South Korea’s Romanization rules, a personal name is presented in family-name-first order, with a space between the family name and given name. The given name is normally joined, although a hyphen is allowed. Personal and conventional spellings, however, do not always follow the most direct modern transcription. source
That is why familiar surnames include Kim for 김, Lee for 이, and Park for 박. A surname such as 정 may appear as Jeong, Jung, or Chung. These are not interchangeable spellings that an editor should “correct” without permission.
Name order may also change in international settings:
- Kim Minji — Korean order, family name first
- Minji Kim — given name first
- KIM Minji or Kim, Minji — formats that identify the family name explicitly
Follow the person’s own spelling and preferred order. For airline reservations, visas, banking, and identity checks, reproduce the passport name exactly.
South Korean passports treat the Romanized name as an official representation of the registered Hangul name. Current rules make joining the given-name syllables the default, permit a hyphen, and also allow spacing on request. Once a passport spelling has been established, later changes are restricted and may create problems with existing visas or travel records. source
Given names do not have one meaning per sound
Many Korean given names are associated with 한자 (hanja), Chinese characters historically used in Korean. Each syllable can correspond to different characters, so two people named 민지 may have chosen hanja with different meanings.
For that reason, do not translate a person’s name confidently from its pronunciation alone. You need to know the characters selected for that particular name. Some names instead use native Korean words, such as 하늘 (Haneul, “sky”) or 사랑 (Sarang, “love”), and a registered name does not have to be recorded with hanja. If a proposed hanja character is not accepted for personal-name registration, the name may be recorded in Hangul instead. source
Some lineages use an 항렬자 (hangnyeolja), a generation character shared in the names of relatives belonging to the same generation. This can explain why brothers or cousins share one given-name syllable, but it is a family tradition rather than a rule followed by all Koreans.
Surnames, marriage, and clan origin
Marriage does not automatically replace a Korean spouse’s surname with the other spouse’s. If 김민지 marries 박준호, their registered names remain 김민지 and 박준호. In English, do not assume that she should be called “Mrs. Park”; use the name and title she chooses.
As of September 2026, South Korean civil law still provides that a child generally takes the father’s surname and 본, or clan origin. Parents can instead agree when registering their marriage that their children will take the mother’s surname and clan origin. A family court may later authorize a change when it is necessary for the child’s welfare. source
A 본관 (bon-gwan) identifies an ancestral lineage traditionally associated with a place. Examples include the 김해 김씨 (Gimhae Kim clan) and 경주 김씨 (Gyeongju Kim clan). The bon-gwan appears in family-registration records but is not ordinarily spoken or written as part of an everyday personal name. source
Sharing 김 does not mean that two people are closely related. Even a shared surname and bon-gwan does not establish that two present-day individuals know each other or have a close genealogical connection.
A legal name is not always the name you call someone
호칭 (hoching) means a form or term of address. Korean speakers often use a job title, professional role, or relationship term instead of repeatedly addressing someone by personal name.
At work, you might hear:
- 김 대리님 — Kim + the rank title 대리 + honorific 님
- 민지 팀장님 — Team Leader Minji
- 교수님 — Professor, without a name when the person is clear
Assistant manager is a common English rendering of 대리, but the responsibilities and translated title vary by organization. Workplace address also varies: some employers retain rank-based titles, while others use full names plus 님, English names, or internal nicknames. The National Institute of Korean Language describes title-based forms as common while emphasizing that each workplace develops its own conventions. source
씨: polite, but relationship-sensitive
씨 (ssi) is placed after a surname, full name, or given name and is written with a space: 민지 씨 or 김민지 씨. Dictionaries define it as a respectful form, but its social range does not match English “Mr.” or “Ms.” exactly. source
It can sound natural between colleagues or in a neutral introduction. It may sound insufficiently respectful when used for a superior whose title is known. A surname alone plus 씨—김 씨—can also feel distant or brusque in some relationships. Listen to local usage rather than treating 씨 as universally safe.
님: respect, not an age marker
님 (nim) adds respect after certain roles and titles: 고객님 (“customer”), 부장님 (“department head”), and 선생님. When it follows a personal name directly, it is normally spaced: 김민지 님.
Some organizations routinely use full names plus 님 regardless of rank. Others expect a formal title. 님 is not added merely because a person is older; its use depends on the role, setting, and established convention.
선생님 is broader than “teacher”
선생님 (seonsaengnim) is standard for addressing teachers and instructors. It is also used for some professionals and as a courteous general address in public-service situations. The National Institute of Korean Language notes that it may be used when addressing someone whose specific position is unknown, but it is not a mechanical Korean equivalent of “Mr.” or “Ms.” source
Given names among friends and family
Close friends and relatives may use a given name alone. In casual direct address, -아 follows a name ending in a consonant and -야 follows a name ending in a vowel:
- 민석아! (Minseok-a!) — “Minseok!”
- 민지야! (Minji-ya!) — “Minji!”
These endings express familiarity. Do not use them toward a stranger, workplace superior, or older acquaintance unless that relationship has clearly been established.
Sibling terms may also be extended to close non-relatives. Their direction depends on both the speaker and the person addressed:
- 형 (hyeong) — a younger male addressing an older male
- 언니 (eonni) — a younger female addressing an older female
- 누나 (nuna) — a younger male addressing an older female
- 오빠 (oppa) — a younger female addressing an older male
These terms imply an accepted relationship, not merely an age difference. Calling any older man oppa or any older woman eonni can sound presumptuous when the necessary familiarity is absent.
How to ask what someone prefers
If you meet a colleague and do not know the local convention, ask:
어떻게 불러 드리면 될까요?
Eotteoke bulleo deurimyeon doelkkayo?
“How should I address you?”
A possible reply is:
민지 씨라고 불러 주세요.
Minji ssirago bulleo juseyo.
“Please call me Minji-ssi.”
When a professional title is known, use it unless invited to do otherwise. For example:
김 팀장님, 이 자료 한번 봐 주시겠어요?
Gim timjangnim, i jaryo hanbeon bwa jusigesseoyo?
“Team Leader Kim, could you take a look at this material?”
The safest practical approach is to preserve the person’s chosen Romanization, avoid guessing which element is the surname, and observe how people in that particular setting address one another. Korean naming structure has clear conventions; choosing what to call someone remains a matter of role, familiarity, and local practice.