Namgung Explained

Hangul:	남궁
Rr:	Namgung
Mr:	Namgung

Namgung is a Korean surname. It derives from the Chinese character 南宮.

Clans

In Korea, there are historically 6 Namgung Bon-gwan clans, including Hamyeol, Puyun, Nampyong, Ryongan, Uiryeong, and Chasan.^[1]

Hamyeol Namgung clan claims ancestry from Nangong Kuo, a key adviser in King Wen of Zhou's court. According to them, Namgung Su, a descendant of Nangong Kuo, came alongside Kija to Korea and helped him found Kija Joseon.^[2]

In South Korea, statistics from 2000 indicate the Hamyeol Namgung clan has 18,703 members.^[3]

Notable people

People with this surname include:

• Namgung Woncheng (Korean: 南宮元淸), Goryeo general that is noted to be the ancestor of the Hamyeol Namgung clan.^[1]
• Namgung Shin (Korean: 南宮信), Goryeo military officer.
• Namkoong Won (1934–2024), stage name of South Korean actor Hong Gyeong-il.
• Namkung Do (born 1982), South Korean football player.
• Namkoong Min (born 1978), South Korean actor.
• Namkung Woong (born 1984), South Korean football player.

Fictional

• Namgoong Minsu: a character in the movie Snowpiercer portrayed by Song Kang-ho.
• Namgoong Hyeonja (Korean: 남궁 현자): fictional architect in the film Parasite, by Bong Joon-ho

Notes and References

1. Hongmungwan. Hongmungwan. ko:增補文獻備考卷 (Chŭngbo munhŏn pigo kwŏn). 10-15. https://books.google.com/books?id=rcIuAAAAYAAJ&q=%E5%AF%8C%E6%BD%A4%E5%8D%97%E5%AE%AE%E6%B0%8F&pg=RA1-PA82. 27 February 2018. ko.
2. Web site: 함열남궁씨 - 디지털도봉문화대전 . Digital Local Culture Encyclopedia of Korea . 25 November 2023.
3. Web site: ko:家口 및 人口統計表 (Household and population census list). http://user.chol.com/~namiaz/firstname-number.htm. 27 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20071211181522/http://user.chol.com/~namiaz/firstname-number.htm. 11 December 2007. Korean.