Cultural Reasons:
* Superstition and fortune-telling: Korean culture places a lot of emphasis on fortune-telling and numerology. People might change their name to improve their luck, health, or career prospects based on the interpretation of their birthdate or name's numerological value.
* Family tradition and lineage: In some cases, names are changed to maintain family tradition. For example, a child might be given a name that has been passed down through generations, or the name might be changed to honor an ancestor.
* Changing the "sound" of the name: Korean names are often chosen for their sound, which can be interpreted as having positive or negative connotations. A name might be changed to have a better flow, sound more auspicious, or simply be more pleasing to the ear.
Practical Reasons:
* Marriage: Women often change their surnames upon marriage to their husband's surname, although this practice is becoming less common.
* Adoption: Adopted children often change their names to reflect their new family.
* Legal name changes: People might change their names for legal reasons, such as to correct a mistake on their birth certificate or to escape an abusive past.
* Personal preference: Sometimes people simply prefer a different name and choose to change it for personal reasons.
It's important to note:
* Name changes are not as common in Korea as they are in some other cultures.
* The decision to change a name is a personal one and is influenced by a variety of factors.
* There are no strict rules about when or why people can change their names.
Overall, Korean people change their names for a variety of reasons, but it's important to understand the cultural and practical context in which these decisions are made.