Rhee is a Korean surname, representing the North Korean form of Lee. While in South Korea the surname is romanized as Lee (from 이, I), North Korea uses the transliteration Rhee, reflecting differences in romanization standards between the two Koreas. The underlying Korean character is 李 (이), which derives historically from the Chinese surname Li, one of the most common surnames in East Asia. Etymology and Origins The character 李 originally meant "plum" in Chinese. It became a prominent surname during the Tang dynasty, when the imperial family bore the name Li. Korean adoption of Chinese surnames occurred as part of the Sinicization of Korean culture, particularly among the aristocracy during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE – 668 CE). The Korean pronunciation of 李 is 이 (I), which is phonetically similar to the Chinese Lǐ. In North Korea, the official romanization system romanizes 이 as Ri or Rhee, whereas South Korea uses Lee or Yi. Notable Bearers The name Rhee is famously associated with Syngman Rhee (1875–1965), the first president of South Korea (1948–1960). Despite being a South Korean leader, his surname is often romanized as Rhee owing to transliteration practices of the time. Syngman Rhee was a key figure in Korea’s independence movement and in the establishment of the Republic of Korea. Other notable individuals with the surname include Syngman Rhee (disambiguation), such as the Korean-American scholar and university president Syngman Rhee (president of Yonsei University), and Ho-Joon Rhee, a bioengineer. In the United States, the surname is common among Korean Americans; according to the 2010 U.S. Census, Rhee was the 8,141st most common surname, primarily borne by Asian Americans. Cultural Significance Rhee reflects the long-standing influence of Chinese culture on Korean nomenclature. The character 李 is shared across several East Asian languages: Chinese Li, Korean I/Rhee/Lee, Japanese Ri, and Vietnamese Lý. The differing romanizations in Korea—Rhee versus Lee—illustrate the ideological and linguistic divergence between North and South Korea. While Lee is overwhelmingly common in the South (the second most frequent surname, held by about 15% of the population), Rhee is less prevalent due to its association with North Korea and historical figures who emigrated. Distribution According to data from the United States Census (2010), Rhee is most common among Asian/Pacific Islander populations, reflecting Korean American heritage. Globally, the name is also found in the Netherlands as a toponym, referring to a river in England and a hamlet in Drenthe, but this is etymologically unrelated to the Korean surname. Meaning: Plum, derived from Chinese 李 (Li) Origin: Korean, adapted from Chinese Type: Surname Usage Regions: Korea (especially North Korea) and Korean diaspora