Sung-jin is a Korean given name. It is an alternate transcription of the Korean Hangul 성진, which is also commonly romanized as Seong-jin. The name can be written with various combinations of hanja (Sino-Korean characters), giving it multiple possible meanings depending on the chosen characters.
Etymology
The first element of Sung-jin often comes from Hanja such as 成 (seong, meaning "completed, succeeded") or 星 (seong, meaning "star, planet"). The second element commonly includes 鎭 (jin, meaning "town, marketplace") or 震 (jin, meaning "shake, tremor, excite"). As is typical in Korean naming practice, parents choose characters with positive or aspirational meanings for their children.
Notable Bearers
Several notable individuals bear this name or its variant spellings:
Pai Sung-jin (fl. 1940s), South Korean inventor of chisanbop, a finger-counting method resembling an abacus.
Gong Sung-jin (born 1953), South Korean politician and member of the Grand National Party.
Kang Sung-jin (born 1971), South Korean actor.
Skull (singer) (born Park Sung-jin, 1979), South Korean reggae singer.
Lee Sung-jin (born 1985), South Korean archer and Olympic medalist.
Park Sung-jin (born 1985), South Korean football player.
Won Seong-jin (born 1985), South Korean professional go player.
Jo Sung-jin (born 1990), South Korean football player.
Seong-Jin Cho (born 1994), internationally renowned South Korean pianist and winner of the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition.
Lim Sung-jin (born 1999), South Korean volleyball player.
Cultural Significance
The name Sung-jin appears across multiple domains in South Korea—politics, sports, music, and entertainment—reflecting its broad usage. The name ranks among the many Korean given names that combine two Sino-Korean syllables; the possible meanings (success, star, or reference to a strong character) contribute to its enduring popularity.
- Meaning: Alternate transcription of Seong-jin; interpretations include “completed/star” + “town/shake.”
- Origin: Korean, derived from Sino-Korean hanja characters.
- Type: Given name (unisex but more common for males).
- Usage: Chiefly South Korea.
Sources: Wikipedia — Sung-jin