Korea, Social Life and Customs - FamilySearch Historical Records

South Korea

Title in the Language of the Record
한국 사회 생활과 풍습

What is in the Collection?
This collection includes records for the years 100-2015. These records include a collection of social life and customs from Korea. The text is in Korean, written with Chinese hanja characters. For translation tools, see the section titled For Help Reading These Records. Ancestors are based on the male family line. Children are raised to believe they can never repay their debt to their parents, hence the popularity of ancestor worship and the importance of genealogy records. They hold ancestral ceremonies for the previous three generations (parents, grandparents, and great grandparents) several times a year, particularly on Chusok and New Year's Day. Genealogies and family histories are created because of the great cultural importance of family and lineage. Children are taught that the actions of one family member reflect on the rest of the family. Marriage also is thought of as a union of two families and a means to ensure the continuity of the husband's family line. This collection is being published as images become available.

Collection Contents
Social life and customs records may contain the following information:
 * Family name of your ancestor. (성)
 * Town, Village or City location for your ancestor. (동, 면 or 시)
 * Province and County names to assist you in identifying your ancestor. (도, 시 or 군)

How Do I Search the Collection?
To begin your search it would be helpful if you knew the following information
 * Your ancestor’s family name.
 * Other identifying information such as residence
 * Names of other family members
 * Family relationships.

To search the collection by image: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the appropriate "Province (도, 시), City or County (시,군)" ⇒Select the appropriate "Title (제명), Year(년) 1982 and Volume( 권) and/or Page(페이지)" which takes you to the images Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. When searching: As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor's given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence, age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.

For Help Reading These Records
These records are in Korean. For help reading these records, see the following resource:
 * South Korean Language and Languages
 * Korean names
 * Korean Genealogy guide

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Use the location to search for other records in that area.
 * Use the age to approximate a birth date.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupation, rank or status within the community.

Related Websites

 * Korean Genealogy Guide
 * South Korea Genealogy &amp; Family History Resources
 * South Korea Ancestry Archives
 * Culture of South Korea
 * Korean Genealogy Community
 * Korean Genealogy Discussion Forum
 * Inje University Record Search (in Korean)

Related Wiki Articles

 * South Korean Family History and Genealogy
 * South Korean History
 * North Korea
 * South Korea
 * Korea, Civil Service Examinations and Records of Officials and Employees (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Citing this Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image. This citation is included with every article. Collection citation: Image citation: