GenderChildren overwhelmingly receive father's last name based on long-standing traditionChoi Ji-mu, left, and her husband live in Japan. Her child and husband share the last name "Lee." (Photo by Mana Takada)MANA TAKADAJune 7, 2026 08:45 JSTTOKYO -- Women in South Korea in principle keep their surnames unchanged after marriage while children take their father's last name, a tradition that values fathers' lineage in a patriarchal society.
In South Korea, separate surnames can leave moms feeling left out
Children overwhelmingly receive father's last name based on long-standing tradition
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