Kim is the most common family name in Korea. In 1985, out of a population of between roughly 40 and 45 million in South Korea, there were approximately 8.8 million Kims — roughly 20% of the population (Storey, 35). The name is common in both modern-day North Korea and South Korea. The Chinese character used for the name (金) means "gold," and although the character is usually pronounced "geum" (금) in Korea, it is pronounced "gim" (김) when used for the family name and names of some cities, e.g., Gimhae (金海) and Gimpo (金浦). Jamo redirects here. ... Hanja is the Korean name for Chinese characters. ... The Revised Romanization of Korean is the official Korean language romanization system in South Korea. ... McCune-Reischauer romanization is one of the two most widely used Korean language romanization systems, along with the Revised Romanization of Korean, which replaced (a modified) McCune-Reischauer as the official romanization system in South Korea in 2000. ... The Korean name Hong Gildong (a common anonymous name, like John Doe in American English). ... Korea (Korean: 한국 in South Korea or ì¡°ì„  in North Korea, see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ... 漢字 / 汉字 Chinese character in Hanzi, Kanji, Hanja, Hán Tá»±. Red in Simplified Chinese. ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... Gimhae, also commonly referred to as Kimhae, is a city in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. ... Gimpo An alias for Alan Goodrick. ...

A common ancestor

In ancient historical records, a Xiongnu prince named Kim Iljae was mentioned. This was a man who had gone from royalty, to a slave, and then to an official in the Han court. Kim Iljae's presence within the Han court was vast and very high in rank by the time of Han Wudi's death. Kim Iljae's descendants later fled Han China and escaped into the Korean Peninsula to the Silla Kingdom, and some went even further down to establish the Gaya Confederacy. A Xiongnu belt buckle. ... Kim Iljae (BC 134- BC 86)(김일제) was the common ancestor of both the Gimhae and Gyeongju Kim clans, and common ancestor to the royal families of both the Gaya Confederacy and Silla. ... Han Dynasty in 87 BC Capital Changan (202 BC–9 AD) Luoyang (25 AD–190 AD) Language(s) Chinese Religion Taoism, Confucianism Government Monarchy History  - Establishment 206 BC  - Battle of Gaixia; Han rule of China begins 202 BC  - Interruption of Han rule 9 AD - 24 AD  - Abdication to Cao... Emperor Wu of Han (156 BC*–March 29, 87 BC), personal name Liu Che, was the sixth emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. A military compaigner, Han China reached its greatest expansion under his reign, spanning from Kyrgyzstan in the west, Northern... The Korean Peninsula a. ... Silla (also spelled Shilla, traditional dates 57 BCE - 935 CE) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. ... Gaya was a confederacy of chiefdoms in the Nakdong River valley of southern Korea, growing out of the Byeonhan confederacy and later annexed by Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. ...

Clans

Distribution of ancestral lines of the Kim surname. (1988)

As with most other Korean family names, there are many Kim clans, known in Korean as bon-gwan, each of which consists of individual Kim families. Most Kims belong to one of a few very large clans. Even within each clan, people in different families are not related to each other. These distinctions are important, since Korean law used to prohibit intermarriage in the same clan, no matter how remote the relationship; now, however, only those in a relationship of second cousins or closer may not marry. Image File history File links Kim_surname_pie_chart. ... Image File history File links Kim_surname_pie_chart. ... Bon-gwan are the traditional clan lineages of Korean culture. ...

As with other Korean family names, the Kim clans are distinguished by the place from which they claim to originate. A very large number of distinct Kim clans exist, besides those listed here. The 2000 South Korean census listed 348 extant Kim lineages.^[1]

Gimhae

According to a story recorded only in the Samguk Yusa, in 48 CE, Princess Heo Hwang-ok made an epic journey from a country called "Ayuda" to Korea, where she married King Suro of Geumgwan Gaya and gave birth to 10 children, thus starting the Kim dynasty of Geumgwan Gaya, the capital of which was in present-day Goryeong County. The country of Ayuda is often identified with Ayodhya in India. ^[1] Samguk Yusa, or Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms, is a collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea (Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla), as well as to other periods and states before, during, and after the Three Kingdoms period. ... Suro, or Sureung (수릉, 首陵), (r. ... Geumgwan Gaya [Kumgwan Kaya](43 - 532), also known as Bon-gaya [Pon-Kaya](본가야, 本伽倻, original Kaya) or Karakguk (가락국, Karak State), was a major chiefdom of the Kaya confederacy during the Three Kingdoms Period in Korea. ... Goryeong County (Goryeong-gun) is a county in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. ... Ayodhya   (Hindi: अयोध्या, Urdu: ایودھیا IAST Ayodhyā) is an ancient city of India, the old capital of Awadh, in the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh. ...

Famous ancient members of this clan, aside from the kings of Geumgwan Gaya, include the Silla general Kim Yu-shin. In the Unified Silla period, members of the Gimhae Kim family were admitted to all but the highest level of the Silla bone rank system. Silla (also spelled Shilla, traditional dates 57 BCE - 935 CE) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. ... Kim Yu-shin (595-673) was a general in 7th-century Silla. ... Unified Silla is the name often applied to the Korean kingdom of Silla after 668. ... Relationship of Bone-Rank Gradations in Silla to Office Rank and Post [1] The bone rank system was the system of aristocratic rank used in the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla. ...

This clan is by far the most populous of all Korean clans. The 2000 South Korean census found it to contain more than four million people.

Gyeongju

The Gyeongju Kims trace their descent from the ruling family of Silla. The founder of this clan is said to have been Kim Alji, an orphan adopted by King Talhae of Silla in the first century CE. Alji's seventh-generation descendant was the first member of the clan to take the throne, as King Michu of Silla in the year 262. Gyeongju is a city (see Subdivisions of South Korea) and prominent tourist destination in eastern South Korea. ... Silla (also spelled Shilla, traditional dates 57 BCE - 935 CE) was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. ... Kim Alji (김알지、金閼智) was the credited founder of the Gyeongju Kim clan and also the Kim Royal Family of Silla. ... Talhae of Silla (?-80, r. ... Michu of Silla was the thirteenth ruler of the Korean state of Silla. ...

This clan is also extremely populous. In the South Korean census of 2000, more than 1.7 million citizens claimed to be Gyeongju Kims.

Hamchang

The Hamchang Kims trace their origin to the founder of the little-known Gaya state of Goryeong Gaya. His alleged tomb, rediscovered in the 16th century, is still preserved by the modern-day members of the clan. This clan numbered only 26,300 members in the 2000 South Korean census. Hamchang is an eup in Sangju City, North Gyeongsang province, South Korea. ... Gaya was a confederacy of chiefdoms in the Nakdong River valley of southern Korea, growing out of the Byeonhan confederacy and later annexed by Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. ... Goryeong Gaya was one of the lesser chiefdoms of the Gaya confederation during the Korean Three Kingdoms period. ...

List of people with the name "Kim"

• North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and his father/predecessor Kim Il-sung
• International curator, Kim Yu-yeon
• Martial arts expert Ashida Kim (pseudonym)
• Member and lead vocals of the popular Korean boyband, TVXQ (DBSK/DBSG), Kim JaeJoong a.k.a. Hero/YoungWoong
• Member of the popular Korean boyband, TVXQ (DBSK/DBSG), Kim Junsu a.k.a. Xiah
• LPGA golfer Kim Mi-hyun
• Artist and puzzle maker Scott Kim
• Singer Andy Kim (stage name; real name is Andrew Youakim)
• Actress and singer Kim Hee-sun
• Singer in group GOD Kim Taewoo
• Politician Kim Gu
• South Korean president Kim Young-sam
• South Korean president Kim Dae-jung
• Fashion designer André Kim
• Kim Jae-kyu, former director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency
• Kim Shin-ra (Rikidozan)
• Kim Sun-il, a man beheaded in Iraq
• Kim Hyung-tae, a Korean artist
• Female professional wrestler Gail Kim
• Lost actors Yunjin Kim and Daniel Dae Kim
• Figure skater Kim Yu-Na
• Korean actresses:
• Kim Tae Hee
• Kim Hee Sun
• Kim Sung-soo
• Kim So-yeon
• Kim Sa-rang
• Kim Hyun-ju
• Kim Gyu-ri
• Kim Hyo-jin
• Birdie Kim
• Kim Byung-hyun
• Kim Chi-gon
• Kim Ch'un-su
• Kim Dae-jung
• Kim Dae-mu
• Kim Dong-jin
• Kim Dong-moon
• Kim Dong-wan
• Kim Doo-hyun
• Kim Du-han
• Kim Duk-koo
• Kim Hee-sun
• Kim Ho
• Kim Hong-do
• Kim Hye-su
• Kim Hyo-jin
• Kim Hyun-ju
• Kim Jae-kyu
• Kim Jae-won
• Kim Jee-hyuk
• Kim Jeong-ho
• Kim Jong-chul (poet)
• Kim Jong-chul (political figure)
• Kim Jong-nam
• Kim Jong-pil
• Kim Joon-gon
• Kim Jung-woo
• Kim Jun-yop
• Kim Ki-duk
• Kim Kye-gwan
• Kim Kyu-sik
• Kim Mi-hyun
• Kim Pyong-il
• Kim Sa-rang
• Kim Se-hwang
• Kim Seon
• Kim Seung-kew
• Kim Shushun
• Kim Soo-chul
• Kim Soo-nyung
• Stephen Kim Sou-hwan
• Kim Woo-jung
• Kim Yong-hyun
• Kim Yong-nam
• Kim Yong-san
• Kim Young-kwang
• Kim Young-sam
• Kim Yu-shin

North Korea, officially the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK; Korean: Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk; Hangul: 조선민주주의인민공화국; Hanja: 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國), is a country in eastern Asia... Kim Jong-il (also written as Kim Jong Il) (born February 16, 1942) is the leader of North Korea. ... Kim Il-sung (15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was the leader of North Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death, when he was succeeded by his son Kim Jong-il. ... Yu Yeon Kim (born South Korea) is an independent curator based in New York City, USA and Seoul, Korea. ... Ashida Kim is a Florida-based American martial arts teacher and author best known for his books on ninjitsu training. ... Mi Hyun Kim is a female golf champion from South Korea. ... Invertible GOES logo designed for Space Systems/Loral by Scott Kim Scott Kim is an American puzzle and computer game designer, artist, and author. ... Andy Kim, born December 5, 1952 in Lala Land, Jupiter, is a pop singer/songwriter. ... Kim Hee-sun (Kim Hee-seon, 김희선, b. ... Kim Tae Woo (Hangul: ) is a K-pop singer, originally the lead singer of popular boy band g. ... Kim Gu (김구 金九, August 29, 1876 – June 26, 1949), the sixth and last president of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, was a Korean patriot who had struggled against the Japanese occupation of Korea that lasted from 1910 to 1945. ... Kim Young-sam (born December 20, 1927 in Geoje, South Gyeongsang) was the President of the Republic of Korea from February 25, 1993 to February 25, 1998. ... Kim Dae-jung (born December 3, 1925) is a South Korean politician. ... Mr. ... Kim Jae-kyu (March 6, 1926–May 24, 1980) was a South Korean military and intelligence officer. ... The Agency for National Security Planning (also referred to as ANSP or KCIA) is the chief intelligence bureau of the Republic of Korea. ... Rikidōzan (Japanese: 力道山, Korean: 역도산, November 14, 1924 - December 15, 1963) was a professional wrestler, known as the Father of Puroresu and one of the most influential men in wrestling history. ... Kim Sun-il (September 13, 1970 – June 22, 2004) was a South Korean translator working in Iraq for Gana General Trading Company, a South Korean company under contract to the U.S. military. ... Hyung-Tae Kim (김형태) (born February, 1978, Seoul) is a Korean artist. ... Gail Kim (born February 20, 1976 [1][2]) is a Korean Canadian professional wrestler, valet, and actress. ... Lost is an Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning serial drama television series that follows the lives of a group of plane crash survivors on a mysterious tropical island, somewhere in the South Pacific. ... Yoon-jin Kim (born November 7, 1973 in Seoul, South Korea) is a South Korean actress. ... Daniel Dae Kim (born August 4, 1968) is a Korean/American actor. ... This is a Korean name; the family name is Kim Kim Yu-Na (born September 5, 1990 in Gunpo, South Korea), is a South Korean figure skater. ... Kim Tae Hee (born March 29, 1980) is a South Korean actress from Ulsan. ... Kim Hee-sun is a South Korean actress who has been acting in Korean TV dramas and films for over a decade. ... Kim Sung-soo (김성수) is a Korean actor born on May 23, 1975. ... Kim So-yeon (November 2, 1980, Seoul) is a South Korean actress best known for her starring role in the television series All About Eve. ... Kim Sa-rang (born January 12, 1978) is a Korean actress. ... Kim Hyun-ju (born April 24, 1978, Ilsan-gu, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea) is a Korean actress. ... Screenshot of Kim Gyu-ri from Whispering Corridors Kim Gyu-ri (김규리, born 27 June 1979 in South Korea) is a Korean actress. ... Kim Hyo-jin (born February 10, 1984) is a Korean actress. ... Birdie Kim (born Ju-Yun Kim in Ik-San on 26 August 1981) is a female South Korean golfer. ... Byung-Hyun Kim (born January 21, 1979 in Gwangju, South Korea) is a right-handed pitcher who has played for the Colorado Rockies since 2005. ... Kim Chi-Gon (김치곤, born July 29, 1983) is a South Korean football player who, as of 2004 was playing for FC Seoul. ... Kim Chun-su (November 25, 1922 - November 29, 2004) was born in Chungmu (present-day Tongyeong). ... Kim Dae-jung (born December 3, 1925) is a South Korean politician. ... Kim Dae-Mun (? - ?) was a Silla historian. ... Kim Dong-Jin (김동진, born January 29, 1982) is a South Korean football player who, as of 2004 was playing for FC Seoul. ... Kim Dong-moon (born 22 September 1975) is a male badminton player from South Korea. ... Kim Dong Wan is a South Korean singer and actor, born November 21, 1979. ... Kim Doo-Hyun (born July 14, 1982) is a South Korean football player who, as of 2004 was playing for Suwon Samsung Bluewings. ... Kim Du-han, also spelled Kim Doo Han (1918-1972) was a Korean gangster, right-wing politician, and freedom fighter. ... Media:Example. ... Kim Hee-sun (Kim Hee-seon, 김희선, b. ... Born on November 23, 1944, Kim Ho began his association football playing career with the amateur Jeil Fabric team, where he played from 1964~1968. ... Kim Hong-do, better known as Danwon (1745-?), was a painter of the late Joseon period. ... Kim Hye-su (born September 5, 1970) is a Korean actress and model. ... Kim Hyo-jin (born February 10, 1984) is a Korean actress. ... Kim Hyun-ju (born April 24, 1978, Ilsan-gu, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea) is a Korean actress. ... Kim Jae-kyu (March 6, 1926–May 24, 1980) was a South Korean military and intelligence officer. ... Kim Jae-won (Born February 13, 1981) is a Korean actor. ... Kim Jee-Hyuk (born October 26, 1981) is a South Korean football player who, as of 2004 was playing for Busan Icons. ... Kim Jeong-ho (pen name Gosanja; 1804-1866) was a Korean geographer. ... Kim Jong-chul is a South Korean poet. ... Kim Jong-chul (born September 25, 1981) is a son of Kim Jong-il and the grandson of Kim II Sung and Kim Jong-suk, the leader of North Korea (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea). ... Kim Jong-nam (born May 10, 1971, Pyongyang, North Korea), is the eldest son of Kim Jong-il, ruler of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea). ... Kim Jong-pil is a South Korean politician and founder of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (the KCIA, now the National Intelligence Service), who served as Prime Minister twice, from 1971-1975 and from 1998-2000. ... Joon Gon Kim, also known as Dr. Joon Gon Kim, is the founder of Korea Campus Crusade for Christ, established in 1958 with collaboration and support from Dr. Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, International. ... Kim Jung-Woo (born May 9, 1982) ,from Korea University, is a South Korean football player who, as of 2004 was playing for Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i. ... Kim Jun-Yop, historian, educator, social activist. ... Kim Ki-duk is a Korean film maker noted for his meditative, philosophical films. ... Kim Kye Gwan (b. ... Kim Kyu-shik, also spelled Kim Gyu-sik (January 29, 1881 - December 10, 1950), was a leader in the Korean independence movement and the early history of South Korea. ... Mi Hyun Kim is a female golf champion from South Korea. ... Kim Pyong-il (born 1954) is the half-brother of the current leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il, and the son of former leader Kim Il-sung. ... Kim Sa-rang (born January 12, 1978) is a Korean actress. ... James Kim is not Kim se Hwang. ... Kim Seon (fl. ... Kim Seung-kew (also Kim Seung-gyu; born July 20, 1944 in Gwangyang, Korea) is South Korean Minister of Justice and became head of the National Intelligence Service on July 5, 2005. ... Kim Shushun (born January 24, 1980) , also known as Kin Hidetoshi, Kim Shujun, or Kim Sujun, is a professional Go player. ... Kim Soo-chul (surname Kim; also spelled Kim Soochul or Kim Suchol) is a South Korean musician and composer. ... Kim Soo-nyung (b April 5, 1971, Seoul) was a member of the South Korean Olympic archery team in 1988, 1992, and 2000. ... His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan (born May 8, 1922) is a senior Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and the former Archbishop of Seoul, South Korea. ... Kim Woo-joong was the founder and former chairman of the Daewoo Group. ... Kim Yong-hyun (born 13 May 1978) is a male badminton player from South Korea. ... Kim Yong Nam (born 1928) is a North Korean official. ... Kim Yong-san (born 1922) is a Korean businessman. ... Kim Young Kwang (김영광, born June 28, 1983) is a South Korean football player who, as of 2004 was playing for Chunnam Dragons. ... Kim Young-sam (born December 20, 1927 in Geoje, South Gyeongsang) was the President of the Republic of Korea from February 25, 1993 to February 25, 1998. ... Kim Yu-shin (595-673) was a general in 7th-century Silla. ...

Notes

1. ^ 성씨,본관별 가구 및 인구. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.

For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Korean culture
• Korean name
• List of Korea-related topics
• List of Korean family names

The traditional culture of Korea is shared by South Korea and North Korea, but there are regional differences. ... The Korean name Hong Gildong (a common anonymous name, like John Doe in American English). ... This is a list of Wikipedia articles on Korea-related people, places, things, and concepts. ... This is a list of Korean names, in Hangul alphabetical order. ...

References

Storey, Robert. Lonely Planet: Korea. Lonely Planet Publications: Melbourne, Aus. 2001.

External links

• Korean-language site of the Gyeongju Kim association