Choi

Choi is a common Korean surname. In Hangul, the name is written as 최, and in hanja the most frequently used character is 崔, commonly interpreted as meanings such as “esteemed,” “high,” or “noble.” The surname is widely distributed in Korea and among Korean diaspora communities.

In Korea, surnames are often linked to a bon-gwan, a geographic origin of a clan. The Choi surname exists in multiple distinct bon-gwan lineages, each tracing its ancestry to different regions. While the meaning of the hanja can vary with different characters, the surname itself denotes a family name inherited patrilineally rather than a given name.

Romanization of the name varies. Choi is the most common spelling in South Korea, but alternative spellings such as Choe or Cui appear in other contexts or among diaspora communities, reflecting different transliteration traditions and Chinese-derived spellings.

Notable people with the surname include actors Choi Min-sik, known for films such as Oldboy; Choi Ji-woo, an actress popular for television dramas like Winter Sonata; and singers and actors Choi Si-won of Super Junior and Choi Sooyoung of Girls’ Generation. The surname appears across many fields, reflecting its prominence in Korean society.