Today, it is taken for granted that all Koreans are born with a surname, but just over 100 years ago, that was not the case. Until the Joseon Dynasty, many slaves and some commoners, who constituted a significant portion of the total population, often did not have surnames, which was a clear indication of their social status. However, in 1909, the 'Minjeok Act (民籍法)' promulgated during the Korean Empire brought about fundamental changes to the lives and identities of Koreans. By mandating that all citizens possess a surname, this law became a decisive turning point in reshaping the long-standing surname culture.
Banner Ad Start Banner Ad EndPeople Without Surnames, and the Social Meaning of Surnames
Surnames during the Joseon Dynasty were primarily the exclusive property of the aristocratic class. Surnames symbolized the lineage passed down from ancestors and the honor of the family, and were recorded and managed for generations through family registries (jokbo). In contrast, many people from the slave or commoner classes were called only by their given names without surnames, or adopted names based on their place of origin. This clearly marked the difference in social status, and the absence of a surname meant exclusion from social rights or honor.
Promulgation of the 1909 Minjeok Act and its Background
On March 23, 1909, the Korean Empire promulgated the 'Minjeok Act' to establish a modern population management system and clarify the rights and duties of individual citizens. One of the core provisions of this law was to mandate that all citizens register their surname (姓) and 본 (본; clan seat). This was also part of an effort to establish a modern state system just before the full-scale colonization by the Japanese Empire.
- Necessity of Modern Population Management: The government needed to systematically grasp population information essential for national operation, such as tax collection, conscription, and education. Surnames served as a modern unit for clearly registering individuals as members of the nation and society.
- Spread of Social Equality Consciousness: With the official abolition of the class system after the Gabo Reform (1894), a legal basis was provided for those without surnames to acquire them. The Minjeok Act institutionally supported these social changes.
The Process of Acquiring Surnames: Selection and Concentration Phenomena
Following the implementation of the Minjeok Act, countless people who did not have surnames were required to register them. In this process, the following phenomena emerged.
- Adopting the Master's Surname: Many who had worked as slaves for a long time often adopted the surname of their master. This could be attributed to familiarity and the psychological desire to elevate their social status, even slightly, by borrowing the master's authority.
- Selection of Prominent Surnames: There was a noticeable tendency to choose major surnames like 'Kim (金), Lee (李), Park (朴),' which were socially prominent and numerous at the time. Instead of creating new surnames, people aimed to reduce social confusion by selecting existing and reputable ones.
- Establishment of Bon-gwan: Along with surnames, Bon-gwan (本貫; clan seat) also had to be registered, and in many cases, people designated their place of residence as their Bon-gwan.
These phenomena ultimately became one of the main reasons why the 'Kim, Lee, Park' surnames account for an overwhelming majority in Korean society today. The concentration of surname distribution was further deepened as a large number of people without surnames were incorporated into specific surnames.
How the Minjeok Act Changed Korean Identity
Beyond simply bestowing surnames, the Minjeok Act profoundly influenced the personal and social identity of Koreans.
- Modern Individualization of All Citizens: Surnames became a modern mechanism for clearly registering individuals as members of the nation and society. By enabling everyone to possess legally equal surnames, it signified the institutional completion of the spirit of class system abolition.
- Reinforcement and Distortion of Lineage Consciousness: With everyone acquiring surnames, a paradoxical phenomenon emerged where consciousness of lineage and family registries (jokbo) was further strengthened. Existing aristocratic families meticulously managed their family registries to emphasize their 'true' lineage, while those newly acquiring surnames gradually endeavored to create their own family registries or be incorporated into existing ones. In this process, some forged or exaggerated family registries also appeared.
- Cultural Continuity and Change: The Minjeok Act incorporated traditional surname culture into a modern legal system, while simultaneously offering those who previously lacked surnames the opportunity to become part of history and lineage. This illustrates a crucial cultural turning point experienced by Korean society at the intersection of tradition and modernity.
The 1909 Minjeok Act, by granting surnames to slaves and commoners, became a turning point for all Koreans to establish their identity as modern individuals. This is remembered as a historical event of no small significance, profoundly influencing the surname distribution, social stratification, and individual identity perception in Korean society.