7 Korean Actors You Probably Had No Idea Use Stage Names Instead Of Real Names

Just like K-Pop idols, Korean actors also often use new names to start their careers. But often, fans are not aware that their favorite actor’s legal name is completely different from what they know them as! Here are 8 such actors whose real names might take you by surprise:

1. Park Seo Joon

| @bn_sj2013/Instagram

Park Seo Joon’s real name is Park Yong Kyu. Since not many people are aware of his real name, he uses it while making donations to keep it low-key. Whoever said K-Drama male leads are only fictional clearly didn’t know this man.

2. Hyun Bin

| VAST Entertainment

As hard as it might be to believe, Hyun Bin is actually named Kim Tae Pyeong. Some sources say he adapted the stage name early in his career because he felt that his real name is hard to pronounce.

3. Gong Yoo

| @gongyoo_official/Instagram

Yes, even your Goblin man has a different real name. Gong Yoo was born as Gong Ji Cheol. Fun fact, he created his stage name Gong Yoo by combining his father’s surname (Gong) with his mother’s (Yoo).

4. Song Ji Hyo

| @my_songjihyo/Instagram

The real name of Song Ji Hyo is Cheon Soo Yeon. She was actually born as Cheon Seong Im but was later renamed. At the beginning of her modelling career, she decided to go by Song Ji Hyo inspired by the names of her two idols Song Seung Heon and Song Hye Kyo.

5. Shin Min Ah

| @illusomina/Instagram

Shin Min Ah was actually born as Jang Min Ah. She started her career as a model with the name Yang Min Ah and her name gained some popularity because it was similar to the then famous “Burger Girl” Yang Mi Ra‘s name.

6. Kim Woo Bin

| @____kimwoobin/Instagram

Kim Woo Bin’s real name is Kim Hyun Joong. He adapted this stage name when he transitioned from being a runway model to an actor. According to Woo Bin, the reason why he chose a different name for his acting career was to avoid his name getting confused with actor Kim Hyun Joong, who played Yoon Ji Hoo in the iconic K-Drama Boys Over Flowers.

7. Son Ye Jin

| @yejinhand/Instagram

Just like her husband Hyun Bin, Son Ye Jin also adapted her stage name at the beginning of her acting career. Her real name is Son Eon Jin. Though the difference isn’t too drastic, Son Ye Jin definitely fits her like a glove.