2. In K-dramas they often have an English name besides their Korean name when they live abroad, even registered in their passport, and sometimes some characters have it like a nickname. Such name doesn't feel related to their Korean names, but more like names they chose because they like it. As a foreigner, I think it's cute. But then why choosing a Korean name not related to your name would feel weird? Is it because is only a kdrama thing and most Koreans also think giving yourself an English name not related to your name is weird? ๐
Hello! Thank you for your question, I spent a while talking about this with my friends and I think I've come up with the best explanation I can โค๏ธ
Firstly, Korean people with English names in their passports are super rare. Normally, they'd just have the romanization of their Korean name (ex. ๊น์คํ would be Kim Jun Hwan) To add any English, you need documentation that you lived abroad with that name (ex. Amerian passport for a dual citizen). Korean people can't just register an English name, so yes-- dramas are unrealistic haha ๐คฃ
As for names not being related, this is a super complex issue that many of the you actually pointed out! It is that a lot of people in the west will not even make an effort to pronounce Asian/ethnic names correctly. The root of why people choose names like Jessica/Amanda/etc. is because our ethnic names are not considered cool/pretty whereas, even in Korea, other names are seen as really cool. ๐
Here is a testimony from my friend: When I moved abroad, my teachers told me that my Korean name was too hard to pronounce so they forcibly gave me an English name. I still use it now but looking back I wish I didn't :(
Other people will give themselves an English name when they are learning English (Just like many of you with Korean). But using it as a fashion, Ex. Someone who is into American music just giving themselves an English name for no reason (catch my drift ๐) would be considered weird here too. Dramas are not always so realistic when it comes to things like this so thank you for your question!
That explanation got so much longer than I thought ๐ Hope I answered your question <3 | 
