In South Korea, names are deeply tied to personal identity, cultural heritage, and even fortune. Many Koreans believe that a name can influence their destiny, which is why some people, including celebrities, choose to change their legal names for better luck, professional success, or personal growth. This article highlights 12 Korean celebrities who have legally changed their real names, sometimes more than once.

For everyday Koreans, changing a legal name is a relatively straightforward process. Applicants must submit a request to the local court, often with a valid reason, such as avoiding bad luck, seeking better fortune, or improving their name’s fit with modern society. The entire process typically takes 3–6 months and costs around 50,000 KRW to 100,000 KRW ($40–$80), depending on legal fees and required documentation.

Let’s check the 12 celebrities. 

1. Park Gyeongbok → Park Seungjun → Park Seoham (Former KNK Member and Actor Park Seoham)

Park Seoham began his career as Park Gyeongbok but changed his name to Park Seungjun during his time with the idol group KNK. After transitioning to acting, he adopted the name Park Seoham.

2. Yoon Byeongok → Yoon Jisung (Former Wanna One Member Yoon Jisung)

Yoon Jisung legally changed his name from Yoon Byeongok, because he felt that his original name was not bringing him good fortune.

3. Lee Hojoon → Lee Jihwan → Lee Jooheon (MONSTA X’s Joohoney)

MONSTA X’s Joohoney was born as Lee Hojoon but later changed his name to Lee Jihwan. Eventually, he legally became Lee Jooheon. These changes were made as he faced various hardships and believed that his name brought him bad luck. 

4. Yoo Kyungwan → Yoo Jeongyeon (TWICE’s Jeongyeon)

Before debuting with TWICE, Jeongyeon changed her name from Yoo Kyungwan to Yoo Jeongyeon after being teased for having a name that sounded masculine.

5. Kang Euigeon → Kang Daniel

Kang Daniel, originally named Kang Euigeon, legally changed his name to Kang Daniel because many people found it difficult to pronounce his birth name. 

6. Lee Gunmin → Lee Seoho (ONEUS’ Seoho)

ONEUS member Seoho changed his birth name, Lee Gunmin, to Lee Seoho before debuting to align with his career in the entertainment industry and for personal reasons, including a belief that the new name would bring better fortune and success. 

7. Jeong Hyerim → Jeong Eunji (Apink’s Eunji)

Jeong Eunji from Apink changed her name from Jeong Hyerim to Jeong Eunji when she was in her second year of middle school. According to sources, her parents consulted a fortune teller, who advised that her original name, specifically the character “림” (Rim) meaning “forest,” could bring difficulties and hardships. To improve her luck, she adopted the name Jeong Eunji.

8. Jung Jaehyun → Jung Yoonoh (NCT’s Jaehyun)

NCT’s Jaehyun, born as Jung Jaehyun, went through a name change in his middle school years. Initially, his family settled on the name “Jung Jaehyun,” but his grandmother wanted him to have a Hanja name, which is a traditional Chinese character-based name. Since there was no suitable Hanja character for “hyun,” they legally changed his name to “Jung Yoonoh” to include Hanja characters. However, when Jaehyun became a trainee at SM Entertainment and later debuted, he reverted to his original name, possibly due to the similarity of “Yoonoh” with TVXQ’s U-Know Yunho, leading to potential confusion. In addition to these legal changes, Jaehyun also briefly adopted the English name “Jay” while living in the U.S. to make his name easier for his teachers and peers to pronounce​

9. Kang Hodong → Kang Howon (Former INFINITE’s Hoya)

Hoya, a member of the popular K-pop group Infinite, originally went by the name Lee Hodong (이호동). However, he legally changed his name to Lee Howon (이호원) before debuting with the group​

10. Kim Jongwoon → Kim Jonghoon (SUPER JUNIOR’s Yesung)

Yesung, a member of SUPER JUNIOR, had his legal name changed by his mother in 2016. His birth name was Kim Jongwoon, but his mother felt that the character “woon” (meaning “cloud”) had negative connotations, associated with shadows or bad luck. Without consulting Yesung, she went to the registrar and changed his name to Kim Jonghoon, believing this would bring him better fortune. Yesung only found out about the change three months later when his mother informed him​

11. Park Jisoo → Park Jihyo (TWICE’s Jihyo)

TWICE’s Jihyo legally changed her name from Park Jisoo before her debut. The reason behind this change hasn’t been publicly detailed.

12. Lee MiJoo →  Lee SeungAh (former Lovelyz)

At the time of debut, she was using her real/birth name Lee Mijoo to promote as an idol. However, she later changed her legal name to Lee Seungah because her mother went to a fortune teller and was told that she would have better luck if she changed her name. At the moment, she still promotes as Lee Mjoo but that has become her stage name now. On a show, Lee Mijoo has even attested to the fact that changing her name led to an improvement in her life.

The practice of changing legal names in South Korea is not uncommon, particularly among celebrities seeking better fortune or a more fitting public persona. For idols and actors, a name is more than an identifier—it’s a brand and an extension of their professional identity. Whether to avoid bad luck, align with stage names, or create a stronger connection with their fans, these name changes highlight the dynamic relationship between personal identity and cultural beliefs in South Korea.