Kim (Korean Name)

Kim (Korean Name)

Kim, sometimes spelled Gim, is the most common family name in Korea. The name is common in both modern-day North Korea and South Korea. The hanja used for the name (金) means "gold," and although the character is usually pronounced 금 geum, it is pronounced 김 gim when used for the family name and names of some cities, e.g. Gimhae (김해, 金海) and Gimpo (김포, 金浦). The surname is also used in China (as Jin) along with Cambodia and Vietnam, although it is less common in Vietnam.