Hwang (surname)

In the traditional Korean clan system, which remains as the basis of the family registry system in South Korea, each clan is distinguished by its bon-gwan (본관,本貫). Each bon-gwan in Korea originates from the clan progenitor's settlement, which can be explained as the traditional home of the family clan's first male ancestor. Typically in Korea, a last name includes many distinct bon-gwans, which leads to the last name becoming a broad umbrella designation that involves numerous family clans. Therefore, individuals with Korean descent may be completely unrelated even if their last names are identical, depending on their family clan, or bon-gwan. In the Korean language, Bon-gwans are expressed before the family name when necessary and often involves the family progenitor's first settlement as the name of the bon-gwan. The last name is referred to as the Ssi (씨-氏) in Korean. This arranges every Korean family clan name as bon-gwan ssi, or in other words, family clan - last name.

The Korean Hwang surname originates from a Chinese Han Dynasty's diplomatic ambassador to Vietnam, named Hwang Rak (황락,黃洛). Hwang Rak is recorded in AD 28 as having become lost at sea during a voyage from China to Vietnam, and instead having arrived in Korea during the Silla Dynasty. Hwang Rak arrived at a place in Korea called Pyeong-Hae (평해,平海), located in the Eastern province of GyeongSang-BukDo, as currently known in South Korea. Upon settling in Pyeong-Hae, Hwang Rak naturalized as a Silla citizen and became the first progenitor of the last name Hwang (황) in Korea. His grave is located at GulMi-Bong (봉, 峰, peak), 423-8 BunJi, Wolsong-Ri, PyeongHae-Eub, WolJin-Kun, KyeongSang-BukDo, Republic of Korea, but only the altar of the grave remains as a marker.

Before his death, Hwang-Rak had three sons named Gab-Go (갑고,甲古), Eul-Go (을고,乙古), and Byung-Go (丙古), from eldest to youngest. Gab-Go, the oldest son, is recorded as having remained in Pyeong-Hae, continuing the main Pyeong-Hae family clan. The second son, Eul-Go, is said to have left home Westwards and eventually settled in Jang-Su, becoming the first progenitor of the Jang-Su Hwang family clan. The third and youngest son, Byung-Go, is said to have settled in Chang-Won, becoming the first progenitor of the Chang-Won Hwang family clan. These migrations of the two sons have resulted in the three major Bon-gwans being created under the Hwang family name.

• Changwon Hwang clan - 252,814 members.
• Jangsu Hwang clan - 146,575 members.
• Pyeonghae Hwang clan - 137,150 members.
• Hoideok Hwang clan - 7,393 members.
• Sangju Hwang clan - 7,031 members.
• Deoksan Hwang clan - 3,364 members.
• Jaeahn Hwang clan - 2,752 members.
• Hangjoo Hwang clan - 402 members.

All figures are from the 2000 South Korean census. [2]

To this day, the three primary branches of the Hwang family are the Chang-Won (창원황씨,昌原黃氏), Jang-Su (장수황씨,張水黃氏), and Pyeonghae (평해황씨,平海黃氏) clans, with the largest member counts of the 55 Hwang clans.

• Hwang Chan-sung – South Korean singer, actor, member of 2PM
• Hwang Chi-yeul – South Korean singer
• Hwang Eun-bi, stage name SinB – South Korean singer, member of Gfriend
• David Henry Hwang – American playwright
• Dennis Hwang – Korean-American graphic artist
• Harold Y. Hwang (b. 1970) — American physicist
• Hwang Hee-chan – South Korean football player
• Hwang Hui – 14th-century royal prime minister (영의정, 領議政) during the rule of Taejong and Sejong the Great of the Joseon Dynasty
• Hwang In-yeop - South Korean Actor
• Hwang Jang Lee – South Korean martial artist and film actor
• Hwang Jang-yop – former North Korean politician and North Korean defector to South Korea
• Hwang Jini – legendary gisaeng of the Joseon Dynasty
• Hwang Jin-Woo – South Korean auto racing driver
• Hwang Jung-eum – South Korean actress and singer
• Hwang Jung-eun – South Korean author and podcaster
• Hwang Jung-Oh – South Korean judoka
• Jun-Muk Hwang (born 1963), South Korean mathematician
• Hwang Jun-seok – South Korean engineer
• Hwang Kwang Hee – South Korean singer
• Hwang Kyo-ahn – 44th prime minister of South Korea
• Hwang Jae-hun – South Korean football player
• Hwang Min-hyun – South Korean singer, member of NU'EST
• Serra Miyeun Hwang – Korean-American composer
• Hwang Seung-eon – South Korean actress
• Hwang Sok-yong – South Korean author
• Hwang Sun-hong – South Korean football player
• Hwang Sun-hee – South Korean actress
• Hwang Sun-won – South Korean author and defining figure of modern Korean literature
• Tiffany Hwang – Korean-American singer-songwriter
• Tim – Korean-American singer
• Hwang Ui-jo – South Korean football player
• Virginia Hwang (born 1999) - American cheerleader
• Hwang Woo-Suk – discredited South Korean biomedical scientist
• Hwang Young-Cho – South Korean athlete
• Hwang Yu-mi – South Korean badminton player
• Lexy – South Korean singer
• Joe Wong (comedian) (黄西) – Korean Chinese American comedian and chemical engineer
• Hwang Hyun-jin - South Korean singer, member of Stray Kids
• Hwang Ye-ji - South Korean Singer, member of Itzy

• List of Korean family names
• Korean name
• Korean culture
• Korean language