MSTeam / Dazed Korea
It is a common practise in the idol industry for artists to use stage names. However, off-stage, they're often referred to with their real names. Similarly, in the film and television industry too, actors use stage names but they might not be as evident as they are in the case of idols.
To be more precise, the stage names of Korean actors sound like they could very well be their real names. So, why do they not just use their real names? While there may be many reasons for this, a common reason is advice from fortune tellers. Fortune-telling is an ancient art that is still popular today in South Korea. A large majority of Koreans consult fortune tellers before making major decisions in their life, and oftentimes, these fortune tellers even suggest their clients (both celebrities and non-celebrities) change their names to attract more success and luck.
At the same time, many artists also change their names to fit their image better. This may or may not have anything to do with fortune tellers but is usually suggested by their management companies or by the celebrities themselves.
Besides this, some celebrities also change their names to avoid confusion with other celebrities or if th
