Soo-jin

Soo-jin is a Korean female given name, an alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 수진 (see Su-jin).

Etymology and Meaning

The name Soo-jin derives from Sino-Korean characters. The syllable soo (수) can come from hanja such as 收 meaning "gather, harvest" or 壽 meaning "long life, lifespan". The syllable jin (진) can be from 眞 meaning "real, genuine" or 珍 meaning "precious, rare". Other combinations of hanja characters can also form this name.

Popularity

Soo-jin was the fifth-most popular name for baby girls in South Korea in 1980, the third-most popular in 1988, and the fifth-most popular again in 1990, according to data from the Wikipedia entry on the name.

Notable Bearers

Many notable Korean individuals bear the name Soo-jin (or its variant forms Su-jin, Sue-jin). Among them are artists and musicians: Kang Sue-jin (born 1967), a renowned South Korean ballerina; Yoo Chae-yeong (born Kim Soo-jin, 1974–2014), a South Korean singer; Seomoon Tak (born Lee Su-jin, 1978), a South Korean singer; Horan (born Choi Soo-jin, 1979), a South Korean singer; and Soojin (born Seo Soo-jin, 1998), a South Korean singer and former member of the girl group (G)I-dle.

In film and television, bearers include: Kang Soo-jin (born 1965), a South Korean voice actor; Kim Soo-jin (born 1974), a South Korean actress; Su-chin Pak (born 1976), a South Korean-born American news reporter; Lee Su-jin (born 1977), a South Korean film director; and Chae Min-seo (born Jo Soo-jin, 1981), a South Korean actress.

Cultural Significance

As a popular name in South Korea during the late 20th century, Soo-jin reflects a broader trend of combining positive Sino-Korean hanja characters. The meanings associated with the name—harvest, long life, genuine, precious—embody virtues widely admired in Korean culture.

• Meaning: "gather, harvest" or "long life" combined with "real, genuine" or "precious, rare"
• Origin: Sino-Korean
• Type: Given name (feminine)
• Usage regions: South Korea, Korean diaspora