So (Hangul pronunciation)46

So (Hangul pronunciation)

So is a Korean surname, originally written as 徐 in Hanja. It is the 10th most common surname in South Korea, and the 4th most common surname in North Korea. The most common Romanization of the surname is "So", but other spellings, such as "Seo" and "Suh", are also used.

Origin and meaning

The surname So originated in China, where it was first used by the descendants of Emperor Yao. The character 徐 (pinyin: xú) means "slow" or "leisurely", and it is thought that the surname was given to those who were known for their calm and deliberate nature.

When the Korean people adopted the Chinese writing system, they adopted the character 徐 as well. However, the Koreans pronounced the character differently than the Chinese. In Korean, the character 徐 is pronounced "so".

Clans

There are several clans of the So surname in Korea. The most prominent clan is the Gimhae So clan, which traces its ancestry back to the Silla Kingdom. Other clans include the Gyeongju So clan, the Pyeongyang So clan, and the Chungju So clan.

Notable people with the surname So

There have been many notable people with the surname So throughout Korean history. Some of the most famous include:
So Se-pyo (1944-2018): South Korean politician who served as Prime Minister from 1995 to 1997
So Yong-kim (born 1955): South Korean actress
So Ji-sub (born 1977): South Korean actor
So Hyang-gi (born 1997): South Korean actress
So Yujin (born 2003): South Korean singer and member of the girl group IVE

So in popular culture

The surname So has been featured in many popular Korean dramas and films. Some of the most famous examples include:
Descendants of the Sun (2016): A South Korean drama about a special forces officer who falls in love with a surgeon
Goblin (2016): A South Korean drama about a goblin and a human woman who fall in love
Legend of the Blue Sea (2016): A South Korean drama about a mermaid who falls in love with a human man
Strong Woman Do Bong-soon (2017): A South Korean drama about a woman with superhuman strength
My ID Is Gangnam Beauty (2018): A South Korean drama about a woman who undergoes plastic surgery to improve her appearance

2024-12-17

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