Complete Guide to 궁합
Explore all types of Korean compatibility calculations and their cultural meanings
Name Compatibility
이름 궁합 (Ireum Gunghap)
What It Is
Name compatibility (이름 궁합) is the most popular and accessible form of Korean compatibility testing. It analyzes the harmony between two people based on the stroke counts of their names when written in Hangul (Korean alphabet).
How It Works
- 1.Each name is converted to Hangul characters
- 2.Stroke counts are calculated for each character
- 3.Numbers from both names are interleaved
- 4.Adjacent numbers are added to form a pyramid, keeping only the last digit
- 5.The final two digits represent the compatibility percentage
Cultural Significance
This method gained widespread popularity in Korean schools during the 1990s and 2000s, where students would calculate compatibility with crushes and friends. It's based on the principle that names carry energy and meaning, and the mathematical harmony between stroke counts reflects interpersonal harmony.
The pyramid method symbolizes how two people's energies combine and reduce to a single essence—their fundamental compatibility. While playful, it teaches Korean youth about Hangul structure and traditional numerology.
Best For
- ✓Quick, fun compatibility checks with anyone
- ✓Learning about Hangul and Korean writing system
- ✓Icebreakers and party games
- ✓Works with any names (Korean or non-Korean)