Why Are Korean Students Given English Names?

Question

Seriously, this baffles me. I get the normal response of it is easier for the foreigner to pronounce. In my opinion that is a cop out. I have been in Korea for over a year and I have never heard of a foreigner having problems pronouncing Korean names even when romanized.

A name is the beginning to a person's identity. Why give them a new special English name? Do Koreans want to assume an English identity?

Actually the dual thing does effect my life somewhat. I teach at a school with 700 students. It is hard to know which kid is which when are given two different names. Also, it makes doing report cards a nightmare at times.

But in all due respect, i just want to know why they are given an English name. Personally, wouldn't change my name for anyone under any cercumstances.

Answer 1

How bout looking at it this way...

I am a Korean Canadian born in Canada. Being canadian is a part of my identity as well as being korean. I was born here and raised here. I am just as much canadian as I am korean, thus I was given an english name AND a korean name. You gotta look at it that way. I recognize myself as being korean and canadian, both cultures are a part of me. There's nothing fake about it.

As for korean's who immigrate over to north america, I can completely understand why they would. First of all, names don't translate that well, and sometimes it is hard to fit in a korean name. Second of all, you'll really be taken more seriously with an english name. You think trying to come into a new country is easy? Especially, say like, back in the 70s and 80s? Not only do you have to deal with the culture shock, but the mild racism that occurs everyday. As soon as someone hear's a name like Jinjoo, Youngjae, there's already a stereotype on that person. Granted, I am being a little cynical here in terms of people's attitudes, but I can see why they may change there names.

I'm all for it, and I'm noticing quite a few international korean students keep their korean names at my school anyways. But i don't see anything wrong with taking up an english name.

Answer 2

You might not like the reason they give you but I am afraid there is much truth in it. I have had and still have quite a few Koreans in my classes and they give me the same reason. They prefer the English name closest to their real name because foreigners hardly pronounce their Korean name correctly. It is true that there are some Korean names easy enough to pronounce but many can be good tongue twisters. And instead of a new identity, I reckon that preference for English or Roman name is mainly for having a more "global" sounding nickname. After all, names hardly tell the essentials about persons nowadays.

Answer 3

I think it's simpler than that. I often helped my students choose an English name. I just thought of it as a nickname. If you went to a school in America, didn't you get nicknamed at one time or another? You just hoped that the nickname everyone called you by was a cool one, and not a dopey one. In a way, we seem to like that distinction that a cool nickname gives us. The kids got to pick the name that they thought was the coolest, and they liked being cool. Occasionally, I would have two people with the same English nickname in my class, and I would use their Korean name in addition to their English nickname to differentiate between them.

Answer 4

Well... to organize the answers into a semi-neat one answer (I'll try), here's my attempt at explaining.

1) Their original name is hard to pronounce *correctly* for English-speakers. Some names, granted, translate quite well into romanizations, such as Dan-bi (단비). However, names that incorporate the korean l/r sound (ㄹ) are almost never pronounced correctly by English speakers, such as the name "Mi-rae", or 미래. It's either said to be Me-ray or My-ray, or Me-lay or My-lay. You get the point. (This is not my name, my name actually translates ok into the English language...)

2) They really want to assimilate into American culture. It makes them more "American", maybe they think they'll speak better English with an American name.

3) The most far-fetched explanation being that their name in Korean is absolutely ridiculous into English... such as:
Ok, well I can't think of the weirdest ones right now, believe me, there are some. But for example, there's this soft drink in Korea named "Coolpis". Think about it. Would you want your kid to be named that in English? It sounds perfectly fine in Korean, but in English...

I personally believe you should keep your Korean name, because I've done that, no matter how "odd" or unfitting it seems. But sometimes it takes a strong personality to go against the tide or what you perceive as being against the tide.

Hope that helps~!

Answer 5

I think Korean want to pretend they are something they are not.
They claim to proud to be Korean but changing their features and names speak louder than all their flag waving and protesting.
The "second generation" label for Koreans who immigrated when they were children is outrageously ridiculous.

Maybe I am cynic or a realist.

It could be a way for Koreans to disguise who they really are especially those who illegally come to the U.S. on tourist visa but attend school or try to permanently reside in the U.S without going through the proper channels.

There are more difficult name to pronounce than Korean and these people do not change their names.

Sorry but Koreans who change their names are either committing a crime or will be (attending school on a tourist visa is a crime as is staying in the U.S. on an expired visa) or they long to be something they are not.

The Korean claim that foreigners cannot pronounce their names. Can they pronounce the foreigner's name?

You can pronounce any name if you care to learn. Learning to pronounce a person's name is a sign of respect.

Answer 6

It works both ways. When I was in China to attend a press conference I was given a Chinese name to make it easier for them to pronounce mine.

Answer 7

I was born in the U.S., so I was given an American name in addition to a Korean name. As a student myself, that's basically my reason for receiving a name that doesn't pertain to my Asian ethnicity. I guess my parents wanted me to fit in with other people who were born here in the U.S. as well.
(just a personal story:) One of my aunts, who emigrated to the U.S. with her Irish American husband, kept her Korean name even though she wanted another name to go with her new American surname. The reason behind that is because my uncle felt my aunt didn't look like a Helen or a Mary, so he is actually the one who wanted her to keep her Asian name. As for my other uncles and aunts who emigrated from Korea to the U.S., they actually gave themselves new American names. I also have a relative from Korea who started studying in the states this year and he asked the same uncle to recommend him an American name. Funny isn't it, at least to me it is. I don't know how that went, but that relative's name sounds kind of funny in English, so he probably wanted a name that Americans can easily understand and pronounce. He came here to study the global language English, so I guess he has the right to give himself a new English name if he wants. I think it's about fitting in for many people. [;

Anyway, welcome back Chachee!

lostinchicago: the term 'second generation' in the Korean community here mostly refers to Americans of Korean descent who were born in the U.S. Koreans (immigrants) are not pretending to be something they are not just because they acquire new names. Why don't you elaborate on what 'features' Koreans are trying to change and why don't you remind us all why some Koreans protest.
What could Koreans possibly want to disguise themselves of? You make it sound as you treat Koreans who acquire English names as criminals. Well, Koreans don't illegally come to the U.S. Many Korean students obtain student visas and study around the world (esp. in Australia, U.S.A, Canada, U.K., etc.)
Many people tend to acquire new names names when they emigrate to another country in order to adapt to that environment. You provide no statistics (proof) whatsoever on where you get your idea.
Koreans are not 'changing' their names! They're simply acquiring new ones and adding them to their original names. How dare you say that they are criminals! I know many Koreans who acquire new names and they're surely no criminals or pretending to be something they are not as you claim.
Please don't come to conclusions on what Koreans think. If Koreans can't pronounce the foreigner's name, why would they acquire new names themselves?
You can understand another's culture if you care to learn and respect! - yeah.

Answer 8

It is true, they want a name that is easier for westerner to pronounce and to remember. I am lucky to have a name that is not hard for westerners to call.

Answer 9

Just to piss you off. Who cares what they want to be called?

Answer 10

does it really affect your life...