Kangnam Reveals Journey to Change His Name After 4 Years of Korean Citizenship

Singer and TV personality Kangnam has stirred interest by revealing his decision to change his name from his Japanese birth name, 'Namekawa Yasuo,' four years after becoming a naturalized Korean citizen.

On his YouTube channel 'Neighborhood Friend Kangnami,' a video titled 'Kangnami, 4 Years After Korean Naturalization, Finally Decides to Change His Name!? Visiting Three Naming Centers for a New Name' was uploaded.

In the video, Kangnam shares the reasons for delaying his name change and shows the process of receiving new name suggestions. Despite debuting as a singer in Korea 15 years ago and becoming a naturalized citizen three years ago, he continued to use his Japanese name, 'Namekawa Yasuo.'

Kangnam explained that the delay in changing his name was due to the numerous documents and procedures he needed to handle in Japan. His credit cards, loyalty cards, and airline miles were all under his Japanese name, making an abrupt change complicated. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic restricted his travel between Japan and Korea, further delaying the process.

Kangnam also shared the challenges he faced in Korea due to his Japanese name 'Yasuo.' He mentioned that the name has a negative connotation in Korea and is also the name of a character in the game 'League of Legends.' He humorously confessed that he stopped playing the game after receiving harsh comments at PC cafes.

The name 'Kangnam' itself posed difficulties as well. During a conversation with the production team, he expressed frustration that searching for 'Kangnam' online primarily yields results related to the Gangnam district, such as 'Gangnam restaurants' and 'Gangnam date spots.' Despite gaining attention on variety shows, his news often gets overshadowed by regional articles, leading him to joke that searching for 'Lee Sang-hwa' is the only way to find news about him.

Kangnam faced the challenge of choosing a new surname as well. He considered adopting either his wife Lee Sang-hwa's surname or his mother's surname, Kwon. He explained that taking the surname Lee felt like becoming part of Lee Sang-hwa's family.

Kangnam visited several naming centers to receive suggestions based on his fortune. One center noted that he had never succeeded with the name Yasuo and praised his decision to change to 'Kangnam' in 2011. A monk who read his fortune described him as wise, loyal, and attractive. However, he also advised that speaking harshly to others could bring negative energy back to him. The monk predicted that Kangnam would shine like a jewel and be very busy next year, adding that Lee Sang-hwa's fortune would help him shine, complimenting him on finding a good partner. Another naming center advised that his fortune indicated difficulty in acquiring wealth.

Reporter Chaeryeong Lim, Ten Asia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr