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North Korea imposed similar bans on the use of the names of
its two former leaders, Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, and
grandfather, Kim Il Sung, as part of propaganda drives to build
cults of personality around them.
Kim Jong Un's name is not allowed for newborns and people who
share the name must not just stop using it but must change it on
their birth certificates and residence registrations, KBS
reported, citing an official North Korean directive.
Kim Jong Il, the father of the current leader, issued the order
in 2011, when his son was heir apparent, KBS said. The elder Kim
died in December that year and his son took power.
South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles ties with the
North, could not immediately confirm the report but said it was
plausible.
"The ban is highly possible since North Korea had the same
policy in the era of Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung," a ministry
official said.
It is not known how many people there are in North Korea called
Kim Jong Un, but Kim is a very common family name and Jong Un
are common given names.
(Reporting By Sohee Kim; Editing by Robert Birsel)
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