Seo is a Korean surname and Japanese surname. As a Korean surname, ''Seo'' is the most frequent romanization, but it may also be romanized as Suh, Surh, Sur, Seoh, So and Su. The surname most commonly represents the

hanja Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom. (, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, ...

. Seo can also be used as a single-syllable Korean given name or an element in many two-syllable Korean given names. The given name meaning differs based on the

used to write it. There are 53 hanja with the reading "''seo''" on the

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

n government's official list of hanja which may be registered for use in given names. The Chinese surname Xú also uses the same character. As a Japanese surname, Seo is most frequently written as and is shared by 23,000+ individuals in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the no ...

. Historically, the Seo clan (瀬尾) was also one of the cadet branches of the Hata clan who are descended from Prince

Yuzuki no Kimi Yuzuki is a feminine Japanese given name, primarily used by women, and is also used as a surname. It may refer to: People Surname *, Japanese writer *, Japanese actress *, Japanese actress *, Japanese actress and singer Given name * , Jap ...

, a descendant of Emperor Qin Shi Huang of the Chinese Qin dynasty. The second most common Seo is written as and is shared by 21,000+ individuals in

. The remaining variants are used by less than 2,000 individuals each and are generally used by related families.

Possible Writings

;Japanese

Korean surname

Art and entertainment

Film and television

* Seo Yea-ji, South Korean actress * Seo Do-young, South Korean actor * Seo Hyun-jin, South Korean actress and singer * Seo Ji-hoon, South Korean actor *

Seo Ji-seok Seo Ji-seok (born Seo Jong-wook, 9 September 1981) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for playing in the long-running TV series, notably in the 167-episode KBS1 daily drama ''Pure in Heart'' (''Pure 19''), which brought him to win Best N ...

, South Korean actor * Seo Hyo-rim, South Korean actress *

Seo Kang-joon Seo Kang-joon (born Lee Seung-hwan on October 12, 1993) is a South Korean actor and singer who is a member of the group 5urprise. He gained recognition with his role in the television series ''Cheese in the Trap'' (2016) and has since starred i ...

, South Korean actor and singer, member of actor group

5urprise 5urprise (; pronounced surprise), is the first ever South Korean actor group and consists of five actors: Yoo Il, Seo Kang-joon, Gong Myung, Kang Tae-oh and Lee Tae-hwan. History 5urprise was launched by talent agency Fantagio in September 201 ...

* Seo Min-jung, South Korean actress * Seo Shin-ae, South Korean actress * Seo Woo-jin, South Korean child actor and model * Caroline Suh, Korean–American documentary film director and producer

Music

Seo Dong-hyeon Seo Dong-hyeon ( ko, 서동현; born June 5, 1985, in Hongcheon) is a Korean football player for K3 League club Gyeongju KHNP. His nickname is 'Rainmaker'. Early life Seo Dong-hyeon was born in Gangwon-do, South Korea on June 5, 1985. He lived ...

(stage name Samuel Seo), South Korean singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer *

(stage name Big Naughty), South Korean rapper *

Seo Eun-kwang Seo Eun-kwang (; born November 22, 1990), also simply known as Eunkwang, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, entertainer and musical actor. He is the leader and main vocalist of the South Korean boy group BtoB. Biography Seo was born on Nove ...

, South Korean singer, member and leader of boy band BtoB * Seo Hye-lin, South Korean singer and member of girl group EXID * Seo In-guk, South Korean singer and actor * Seo In-young, South Korean singer, dancer, model, television host, and actress * Seo Ji-young, South Korean singer * Seo Joo-hyun (stage name Seohyun), South Korean singer and actress, member of girl group

Girls' Generation Girls' Generation (), also known as SNSD, is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. The group is composed of eight members: Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun. Originally a nine-piece ensembl ...

* Seo Jung-kwon (stage name Tiger JK), Korean-American rapper, record producer and entrepreneur * Seo Min-woo (1985–2018), South Korean singer and actor, member of boy group 100% * Seo Yu-na, South Korean singer and actress, member of girl group AOA * Jeong Hyeon-cheol (stage name Seo Taiji), South Korean singer, musician, songwriter and record producer * Susie Suh, Korean-American folk-rock singer-songwriter * Angela Seo (born Hyunhye Seo), experimental musician and member of Xiu Xiu

Visual arts

Do-ho Suh Do Ho Suh (hangul: 서도호, born 1962) is a Korean sculptor and installation artist. He also works across various media, including paintings and film which explore the concept of space and home. His work is particularly well known in relation t ...

, South Korean sculptor and installation artist * Seo Soo-kyoung (known as SEO), South Korean contemporary artist * Seo Ae-jin (known as Showry), South Korean video blogger * Suh Yongsun, South Korean painter and sculptor * Hee Seo, South Korean ballet dancer, principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre

Sports

Football

* Seo Dong-myung, former South Korean football goalkeeper * Seo Hyuk-su, former Korean-Australian football player * Seo Jung-won, former South Korean football player and coach

Other

* Jae Weong Seo, retired South Korean baseball player *

Hee-kyung Seo Hee-kyung Seo ( ko, 서희경, born 8 July 1986), also known as Seo Hee-kyung, is a former South Korean female professional golfer playing on the LPGA Tour and on LPGA of Korea Tour. She won the LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year award in 2011. Af ...

, former South Korean professional golfer *

Seo Ho-jin Seo Ho-Jin ( ko, 서호진, ; born June 11, 1983) is a former South Korean short track speed skater who won gold in the 5000m relay at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. He allegedly assaulted compatriot Viktor An Viktor An (russian: Ви ...

, former South Korean speed skater and Olympic athlete * Seo Jang-hoon, former South Korean professional basketball player, entertainer and a variety show star * Seo Mi-jung, South Korean foil fencer * Seo Yoon-hee, South Korean badminton player *

Suh Sung-in Suh Sung-in (; born July 18, 1959, in Seoul, South Korea) is a former boxer from South Korea. Pro career In 1984, Suh became the IBF The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is one of four major organizations recognized by the Internation ...

, South Korean boxer * Suh Yun-bok (1923–2017), South Korean marathoner * Seo Bok-seob, South Korean hapkido co-founder * Seo Seung-jae, South Korean badminton player *

Seo Bong-soo Seo Bong-soo (born February 1, 1953) is a professional Go player. Biography Seo Bong-soo turned professional in 1970. By 1986 he became the 4th ever Korean 9 dan. He was Cho Hunhyun's biggest rival in the 1980s and frequently challenged Cho ...

, South Korean professional Go player *

Seo Jae-pil Soh Jaipil or Seo Jae-pil (January 7, 1864 – January 5, 1951), also known as Philip Jaisohn, was a Korean- American political activist and physician who was a noted champion of the Korean independence movement, the first Korean naturalized ...

, first naturalized Korean-American * Anna Wallis Suh (1900–1969), Methodist missionary, American expatriate, North Korean propagandist *

Suh Nam-pyo Suh Nam-pyo (born 22 April 1936) was the thirteenth president of KAIST from 2006 until 2013, succeeding Robert B. Laughlin and succeeded by Sung-Mo Kang. Personal life Suh was born in Korea on 22 April 1936. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1954 to ...

, thirteenth president of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology * Suh Sang-chul, South Korean economist, educator and administrator * Seo Sang-ryun, South Korean minister, founder of first Korean Protestant church * Philip Jaisohn, first Korean to become a U.S. citizen * Seo Yong-duk, South Korean football midfielder * Seo Ji-hye, South Korean actress * Seo Whi-min, South Korean short track speed skater

Japanese surname

* Akane Seo ( 瀬尾茜, born 1988), Japanese sports coach and retired figure skater * Akiko Seo ( 瀬尾秋子, born 1984), Japanese gravure idol * Aya Seo ( 瀬尾有耶, born 1991), Japanese volleyball player * Fumiko Seo ( 瀬尾芙巳子, born 1929), Japanese academic, doctor, professor and emeritus of

Kyoto University , mottoeng = Freedom of academic culture , established = , type = National university, Public (National) , endowment = ¥ 316 billion (2.4 1000000000 (number), billion USD) , faculty = 3,480 (Teaching Staff) , administrative_staff ...

Hideki Seo was a Japanese-born French fashion designer and artist. Biography Hideki Seo was born on 10 May 1974. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp after studying visual design at the Kyoto University of Art. Seo worked as the ...

( 瀬尾英樹, born 1974), Japanese fashion designer based in Paris, France * Hirofumi Seo ( 瀬尾拡史, born 1985), Japanese doctor and CEO of Sciement Co., Ltd. * Hiroshi Seo (photographer) ( 瀬尾央), Japanese photographer * Hiroshi Seo (colonel) ( 瀬尾浩), late Japanese colonel of the 124th Division of the Imperial Japanese Army *

Ichizō Seo Ichizō, also written Ichizo, Ichizou or Ichizoh is a Japanese masculine given name. People with this name include: * Ichizō Kobayashi (小林一三, 1873–1953), Japanese industrialist * Ichizo Nakata (中田一三, born 1973), Japanese footba ...

( 瀬尾一三, born 1947), Japanese singer-songwriter, music producer and music arranger *

Ikuo Seo Ikuo (written: 郁夫, 育夫, 征夫 or 幾雄) is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, member of Aum Shinrikyo *, Japanese painter *, Japanese politician *, Japanese politician *, Japanese footballer and mana ...

( 瀬尾育生, born 1949), Japanese poet * Kami Seo ( 瀬尾佳美), Japanese environmental economist, professor and researcher * Kaname Seo ( 瀬尾要, 1891–1934), Japanese noh performing artist * Kazuko Seo ( 瀬尾和子, born 1971), Japanese television announcer * Kazunori Seo ( 瀬尾和紀, born 1974), Japanese musician * Kazutoshi Seo (瀬尾和寿, born 1981), stage name Kazu (カズ), Japanese comedian and member of comedy duo Kazu & Ai * Keiko Seo ( 瀬尾恵子, born 1960), Japanese voice actress * Kentarō Seo (瀬尾健太朗, born 1990), Japanese comedian and member of comedy duo THE SHEET * Kiyoshi Seo ( 瀬尾清, born 1970), Japanese soccer player * Kobako Totan ( 小箱とたん), real name Seo Kotoba (瀬尾ことば), Japanese manga artist * Kōji Seo ( 瀬尾公治, born 1974), Japanese manga artist * Koruto Seo ( 瀬尾こると), Japanese novelist * Kumekichi Yamamoto ( 山本粂吉, née Seo (瀬尾), 1893–1974), Japanese politician and lawyer * Kumi Seo ( 瀬尾久美, born 1983), Japanese actress, model and talent * Kyōko Seo ( 瀬尾京子, born 1972), Japanese sports coach and retired gymnast * Magozaemon Seo (( 瀬尾孫左衛門),

Edo Edo ( ja, , , "bay-entrance" or "estuary"), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo. Edo, formerly a ''jōkamachi'' (castle town) centered on Edo Castle located in Musashi Province, became the ''de facto'' capital of ...

era Japanese samurai *

Maiko Seo A is an apprentice geisha in Kyoto and Their jobs consist of performing songs, dances, and playing the or other traditional Japanese instruments for visitors during banquets and parties, known as . are usually aged between 17 to 20 year ...

( 瀬尾まいこ, born 1974), Japanese novelist * Masaru Seo ( 瀬尾傑, born 1965), Japanese businessman, journalist and news pundit * Mitsuyo Seo ( 瀬尾光世, 1911–2010), Japanese animator, screenwriter and director *

Munetoshi Seo Munetoshi (written: 宗厳 or 宗俊) is a masculine Japanese given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and di ...

( 瀬尾宗利, born 1967), Japanese composer *

Nanae Seo Nanae may refer to: * Nanae (given name), a feminine Japanese given name * Nanae, Hokkaido, a town in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan ** Nanae Station, a railway station in the town of Nanae *news.admin.net-abuse.email news.admin.net-abus ...

( 瀬尾七重, born 1942), Japanese children's novelist * Noritake Seo (瀬尾乃武, 1899–1997), Japanese noh performing artist and late certified

Living National Treasure of Japan is a Japanese popular term for those individuals certified as by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as based on Japan's . The term "Living National Treasure" is not formally mentioned in the law, but is an informa ...

Reiko Seo Reiko (れいこ,　レイコ,　麗子, 怜子, 伶子, 玲子, 令子, 礼子, 禮子, 冷子) is a feminine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *, Japanese women's basketball player * Reiko Aylesworth (born 1972), an Amer ...

( 瀬尾礼子), Japanese actress * Shōtarō Seo ( 瀬尾祥太郎), Japanese music lyricist, composer and arranger * Taemi Seo ( 瀬尾妙実, also known as Kim Myo-shil (김묘실; 金妙実), born 1965), a retired North Korean-Japanese figure skater * Takahiro Seo ( 瀬尾尚弘, born 1971), Japanese kickboxer * Takeshi Seo ( 瀬尾健, 1940–1944), Japanese engineer, academic and professor * Takumichi Seo ( 瀬尾拓慶), Japanese photographer *

Takuya Seo Takuya is a masculine Japanese given name. Notable people with the name include: *Takuya Asanuma (born 1971), Japanese guitarist and former member of Judy and Mary who performs as "TAKUYA" *Takuya Eguchi, Japanese voice actor *, Japanese long-dist ...

( 瀬尾卓也, born 1984), Japanese actor * Tatsuya Seo ( 瀬尾達也, born 1960), Japanese motorboat racer * Tomomi Seo ( 瀬尾智美), Japanese retired football player * Tomomi Seo ( 瀬尾智美, born 1969), Japanese actress, voice actress and narrator * Tsukasa Seo ( 瀬尾つかさ), Japanese light novelist * Yasutsugu Seo ( 瀬尾育弐), Japanese medical engineer, medical technologist and professor *

Yutaka Seo Yutaka is a masculine Japanese given name. Possible writings Yutaka can be written using different kanji characters and can mean: *豊, "bountiful" *裕, "affluence" *穣, "fertile" *温, "warmth" The name can also be written in hiragana ゆ ...

( 瀬尾裕, 1916–1988), Japanese translator and academic

Fictional characters

;As a surname * Akira Seo (瀬尾晶), a character in the Japanese adult visual novel '' Tsukihime Plus-Disc'' * Hiroyuki Seo (瀬尾弘之), a character in the Japanese film '' Was I Really Ugly?'' * Hitomi Seo (瀬尾仁美), a character in the Japanese film '' Memory Investigation ~ Shinjuku East Station Case File'' * Kaoru Seo (瀬尾香), a character in the Japanese manga series '' Sekirei'' * Karen Seo (瀬尾かれん), a character in the Japanese CD drama ''In The Seasons Around'' * Ken'ichi Seo (瀬尾謙一), a character in the Japanese TV drama ''

Smiling Angel The ''Smiling Angel'' ( French: ''L'Ange au Sourire''), also known as the ''Smile of Reims'' (''Le Sourire de Reims'') or ''Angel of the Annunciation'', is a stone sculpture at the cathedral of Reims. Sculptors that were pioneers of the Gothic st ...

'' * Kenji Seo (瀬尾健司), a character in the Japanese novel '' The Tender Lance of Sara'' * Mitsuki Seo (瀬尾みづき), a character in the Japanese video game '' Jewel BEM Hunter Lime'' * Mitsuko Seo (瀬尾美津子), a character in the Japanese film '' Was I Really Ugly?'' * Narumi Seo (瀬尾鳴海), a character in the Japanese mobile game ''

Stand My Heroes is a Japanese mobile game. An anime television series adaptation aired from October 2019 to December 2019, and an original video animation was released in May 2023. Media Video game The mobile game was developed by Coly and released on iOS ...

'' * Seo (瀬尾), a character in the Japanese TV drama ''

'' * Seo (瀬尾), a character in the Japanese film '' The Young General Who Returned'' * Shōji Seo (瀬尾彰二), a character in the Japanese animated film '' Symphony in August - Shibuya 2002～2003'' * Naomi Seo (瀬尾直美), a character in the Japanese adult game '' Black Fragment: Mystery of Necronomicom'' * Ritsuko Seo (瀬尾リツ子), a character in the Japanese TV drama '' LOVE STORY IN NEW YORK'' * Ryūji Seo (瀬尾竜二), a character in the Japanese TV drama '' Love Again'' * Sayaka Seo (瀬尾さやか), a character in the Japanese TV drama '' LOVE STORY IN NEW YORK'' * Shizune Seo (瀬尾静音), a character in the Japanese animated film '' The Garden of Sinners: Future Gospel'' * Takayuki Seo (瀬尾孝之), a character in the Japanese TV drama '' I Will Deliver That Edge - The Story of Mercari -'' * Tomoya Seo (瀬尾智也), a character in the Japanese manga '' Assassination Classroom'' * Tosuke Seo (瀬尾斗介), a character in Japanese historical TV drama '' The Scream'' * Yasumasa Seo (瀬尾泰正), a character in the Japanese TV drama ''

The Sun Rises Again ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

'' * Yūdai Seo (瀬尾雄大), a character in the Japanese TV drama '' A3'' * Yukako Seo (瀬尾由加子), a character in the Japanese stage play ''KINSHU'' * Yūzō Seo (瀬尾雄三), a character in the Japanese multimedia series '' Green Horizon'' * Yuzuki Seo (瀬尾結月), a character in the Japanese manga '' Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun''

References

{{surname, Seo Surnames Korean-language surnames Japanese-language surnames