Korean Names

[dinki]

I am not being disrespectful but would appreciate any help i am trying to understand the names of people in the news ie North Korean leaders name and that of his sister, just curious what are the basis of their names which is the first name and how do the other names occur ie which are family names.

[Cloverjo]

It's like China in that the family name is first. The given name is second.

[Jackdaw33]

Spot on. In many oriental countries the same thing happens. If in this country your name was John Fred Smith it would appear as Smith John Fred.

[Cloverjo]

It can be confusing. E.g. I'm still not sure if the tennis player Li Na's given name is Li or Na. TV companies have differing choices of which name to put on the TV scoreboard.

[dinki]

thanks everyone I was curious love language and customs so thought the best thing was to ask. Explanations very easy to understand.

[Peter Pedant]

oh so I cant volunteer that the omega watch master is
Banh On Tiem ?
actually looks Vietnamese but you know....

Ho Chi Minh - the Chinese character for that was the same as the Ming Dynasty ( means Bright I think )

[ludwig]

//If in this country your name was John Fred Smith it would appear as Smith John Fred.//

I actually know a Korean that's called Smith John Fred.