<P> Sōshi (Japanese) means the creation of a Japanese family name (shi, Korean ssi), distinct from a Korean family name or seong (Japanese sei). Japanese family names represent the families they belong to and can be changed by marriage and other procedures, while Korean family names represent paternal linkages and are unchangeable . Japanese policy dictated that Koreans either could register a completely new Japanese family name unrelated to their Korean surname, or have their Korean family name, in Japanese form, automatically become their Japanese name if no surname was submitted before the deadline . </P> <P> After the liberation of Korea from Japanese rule, the Name Restoration Order (조선 성명 복구 령; 朝鮮 姓名 復舊 令) was issued on October 23, 1946, by the United States military administration south of the 38th parallel north, enabling Koreans to restore their original Korean names if they wished . </P> <P> Japanese conventions of creating given names, such as using "子" (Japanese ko and Korean ja) in feminine names, is seldom seen in present - day Korea, both North and South . In the North, a campaign to eradicate such Japanese - based names was launched in the 1970s . In the South, and presumably in the North as well, these names are regarded as old and unsophisticated . </P> <P> In English - speaking nations, the three most common family names are often written and pronounced as "Kim" (김), "Lee" or "Rhee" (이, 리), and "Park" (박). Despite official Korean romanization systems used for geographic and other names in North and South Korea, personal names are generally romanized according to personal preference . Thus, a family name such as "Lee" may also be found spelled "I", "Yi", "Rhee", and "Rhie". </P>

How to address a korean person in email