Korean clans are groups of people that share the same paternal ancestor. They are indicated by the combination of a bongwan (Korean: 본관; lit. place of origin) and a family name.[1]
Korean clans distinguish clans that happen to share the same family name. The bongwan identifies descent groups by geographic place of origin.[2] For example, the Gyeongju Kim and the Gimhae Kim are considered different clans, even though they happen to share the same family name Kim. In this case, Gyeongju and Gimhae are the respective bongwan of these clans. However, a clan name is not treated as a part of a Korean person's name.[citation needed] The bongwan and the family name are passed on from a father to his children, thus ensuring that person in the same paternal lineage sharing the same combination of the bongwan and the family name.[1] A bongwan does not change by marriage or adoption.
Different family names sharing the same bongwan sometimes trace their origin to a common paternal ancestor, e.g. the Gimhae Kim [ko] clan and the Gimhae Heo [ko] clan share Suro of Geumgwan Gaya as their common paternal ancestor, though such cases are exceptional.
According to the population and housing census of 2000 conducted by Statistics Korea, there are a total of 286 surnames and 4,179 clans.[3] The 2015 census reported that a total of 36,744 family clans exist among the 1,507 surnames extant in South Korea.[4]
History
The bongwan system originates from China. It is assumed to have been created around the late Silla and early Goryeo period as a result of Silla's sinicization policies.[1]Taejo of Goryeo promoted the bongwan system to stably distribute a growing population and create a basis for tax revenue, whilst putting an end to the obsolete bone-rank system.[1]
Numerous clans were created throughout local administrations of all sizes and statuses. Almost all Koreans, including the Yangmin and Cheonmin caste, identified with a bongwan from the early Goryeo to the Joseon period. A bongwan affiliated with a prosperous region was widely seen as a source of personal pride, while members from a lesser or impoverished bongwan often sought to escape their genealogical status.[1] Changes in administrative divisions profoundly influenced the merging or creation of various clans.[1]
Restrictions on marriage and adoption
Traditionally, a man and a woman in the same clan could not marry, so the combination of the bongwan and the family name of a husband had to differ from that of a wife. Until 1997, this was also the law, but this was ruled as unconstitutional.
When adopting a child, the adoptive father and the adopted child must share the same combination of the bongwan and the family name. However, in exceptional circumstances, adoptive parents can change an adopted child's family name for the adopted child's welfare. In this case, the adoptive parents must visit a family court to request permission to change the family name.[5]
^Due to incomplete genealogy records, the Jeonju Choi clan does not identify a single unified progenitor. The four factions that constitute the clan each identify a different progenitor.[37]
^Historical records claim that the Jinju Jung lineage has descended from Chi Paekho. However, the clan has since split into four factions that identify with separate progenitors.
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