Yes, you can marry someone with the same last name in South Korea now, as the long-standing ban on same-surname/same-clan marriages was struck down by the Constitutional Court in 1997, allowing marriage between people with the same surname, even from the same ancestral origin, as long as they aren't closely blood-related (within the eighth degree of kinship). The law used to prohibit marriages for those with the same surname and "ancestral home" (dongseong dongbon), but this restriction was lifted, making marriages legal if the couple isn't closely related, which is now the primary focus for marriage restrictions in Korea.
Currently, South Korean laws only ban marriage between people who share a blood relative within the eighth degree (third cousins), whether or not the couple in question shares the same surname.
If its not blood related ; then yes you can be married.
Kings would grant commoners surnames as a mark of favor. Thus, having the same family name does not always mean that people are related. The following list contains the 10 most common family names in Korea along with their Hangul (Korean) character, based on the 2015 KOSIS census.
Marriage in South Korea is currently restricted to unions between individuals of the opposite sex as same-sex marriages remain unrecognized. People over 18 years old may marry with their parents' or guardians' consent.
The "3 date rule" in Korean dating refers to the common practice of establishing an official couple status (boyfriend/girlfriend) by the third date, moving from casual "talking" (sseom) to a defined relationship quickly, a faster pace than typical Western dating, allowing for deeper getting-to-know-you stages after becoming official, though it's becoming less strict with younger generations. It's about rapid commitment assessment, with the first few dates gauging chemistry before locking things down.
In 2024, South Korea set another demographic record, with women marrying for the first time at a historic high average age of 31.6, while men did so at an average age of 33.9.
Rare Korean Surnames
Korean names look simple – typically three syllables, a one-syllable family name first followed by a two-syllable given name.
If two people of the same surname get married both can cure whooping cough. The food left by ferrets can also cure whooping cough. Sty on the eye: Nine goose-berry thorns pointed at the affected eye will cure it.
The 2-2-2 rule for marriage is a guideline to keep a relationship strong and connected: have a date night every two weeks, a weekend getaway every two months, and a week-long vacation every two years. This system encourages regular, intentional quality time, breaks from routine, and deeper connection by ensuring couples prioritize each other amidst daily life, work, and family, preventing stagnation and fostering fun.
There isn't one single "rarest last name" globally, as rarity changes by region, but some names are incredibly scarce, with examples including Pober, Mirren, Febland in England, Gambello (around 60 globally), and unique historical names like Marsvin (Danish noble, extinct male line) or names that have nearly vanished like Twelvetrees or Birdwhistle. Rarity often comes from geographic origins, recent migration, or names dying out, with some existing with only a handful of people.
The 777 rule for marriage is a relationship guideline to keep couples connected by scheduling specific, regular quality time: a date night every 7 days, a night away (getaway) every 7 weeks, and a romantic holiday every 7 months, often without kids, to foster intimacy, reduce stress, and prevent routine from overtaking the relationship. It's about consistent, intentional efforts to prioritize the partnership.
Korean women keep their surnames after marriage based on traditional reasoning that it is inherited from their parents and ancestors, and cannot be changed.
South Korea does not legally allow same-sex marriages or civil partnerships, but the census, which takes place every five years, offers an opportunity for greater recognition and visibility of the LGBT community in data, which is used to influence domestic policy.
In some places, there are additional taboos against marriage between people of the same surname, considered to be closely related. Conversely, in some areas, there are different clans with the same surname which are not considered to be related, but even in these cases surname exogamy is generally practiced.
South Korea's 52-hour work rule caps most employees' weekly working hours at 52, consisting of 40 standard hours plus 12 allowed overtime hours, aiming to reduce overwork, improve work-life balance, and boost productivity by ending excessively long workweeks previously common in the country. Implemented in phases for different company sizes, this law applies to a seven-day week, including weekends, and was a major revision to the Labor Standards Act, phasing in from 2018 to 2021 for most businesses.
Kim is the most common Korean surname, comprising about 20 percent of the Korean population. According to some sources, there are over 600 different Kim clans, but only c. 100 have been documented. Kims can be found in virtually every part of Korea.
1. Kim (김) The most common Korean surname, Kim (김), literally means "gold" or "metal" and is held by roughly 20% of all Koreans! Originating from noble clans during the Silla Dynasty (57 BCE-935 CE), the Kim surname carries tremendous prestige in Korean society.
In Korea, surnames have little diversity because when the class system was abolished, many people simply took on the surname of the affluent or royal family they worked for.
Today, Lee (romanized as Lee, I, Yi (South Korea), Ri (North Korea)) is one of the top five Korean surnames. The surname today traces its roots to two main families in Korea. The first, the most famous, is the Jeonju Yi clan, the surname of Yi Seong-gye, 이성계, the first ruler of the Joseon dynasty.
12 (Xinhua) -- Almost seven out of 10 South Koreans said couples can live together without marriage, while nearly four in 10 replied that couples can have a baby out of wedlock, a statistical office survey showed Tuesday.
Divorce Rate in Asia
The divorce rates published in the World Population Report are the following: Korea – 1.8. China – 2.0. Japan – 1.5.
Terminology. A general definition of an open marriage is that there is an agreement between the two partners to have some degree of sexual interaction outside the couple.