Learn Hardcore Korean: je ireumeun sujiniya.

제 is the humble/polite form of “my,” derived from 저의. In contrast, 내 is the plain form and is typically used only with very close friends or when speaking to someone younger. Using 제 even in a casual sentence shows a bit of respect or humility about yourself.

What does the particle -은 after 이름 indicate?

The particle -은 is the topic marker. By saying 제 이름은…, you’re literally saying “As for my name…” It signals to the listener that what follows is information about your name. If 이름 ended in a vowel (e.g. 지아), you would use -는 instead.

Could I say 제 이름이 수진이야 instead of 제 이름은 수진이야?

Grammatically, yes—you can replace the topic marker -은 with the subject marker -이. However, 제 이름은 수진이야 is the more natural, idiomatic way to introduce yourself in Korean. Using 제 이름이 can sound as if you’re contrasting “my name” with something else (“my name, not my age, is Sujin”).

What is the difference between 이야, 이에요, and 입니다?

All three come from the copula 이다 (“to be”), but they differ in politeness levels:

이야: Casual or intimate speech (used with close friends or younger people).
이에요: Polite informal speech (most common in everyday polite conversation).
입니다: Formal polite speech (used in presentations, announcements, or with strangers/superiors).

Why is there an extra 이 in 수진이야?

Because 수진 ends with a consonant (ㄴ), you insert the consonantal copula 이 before the casual ending -야. If a noun ends in a vowel, you skip that 이 and attach -야 directly (e.g. 지아야).

Why is there no separate word for “am” or an explicit subject “I”?

Korean often drops (omits) subjects when they’re clear from context—that’s called pro-drop. Here, “I” is understood from 제 (“my”). The copula -이야 itself carries the meaning of “am/is.”

How would you introduce yourself more politely or formally?

You can simply swap out -이야 for a higher politeness ending:
• Polite informal: 제 이름은 수진이에요.
• Formal polite: 제 이름은 수진입니다.