List of people of Korean descent

This is a list of famous Koreans or famous people of Korean descent. For easy reference, the Hangul spelling of each person's name is provided alongside his or her romanized name.

Note: In Korean names, the family name is placed first (for example, the family name of "Kim Dae-jung" is "Kim"), unless the person has decided to Westernize his or her name.

Artists

Models

Hye Rim Park
Lee Pa-ni
Natasha Yi
Sung Hi Lee
Joo Ji Hoon (주지훈)
Shaun Coveley

Visual artists

See also: List of Korean painters

Nam June Paik (백남준), visual artist
Choi Jung-hwa (최정화), contemporary visual artist
Owon (오원), Joseon Dynasty painter
Lee Dong Youb (이동엽), contemporary art painter

Actors and actresses

See also:List of South Korean actors

Ahn Jae-mo (안재모)
Ahn Jae-wook (안재욱)
Bae Doona (배두나)
Bae Yong Joon (배용준)
Chae Jung-an (채정안)
Margaret Cho, U.S. Comedian/Actress (Ethnic Korean)
Choi Jeong-yoon (최정윤)
Choi Ji-woo (최지우)
Choi Kang-hee (최강희)
Choi Min-sik (최민식)
Choi Sam (???)
Chu Sang-mi (추상미)
Gam Wu-seong (감우성)
Ha Ji-won (하지원)
Han Chae-young (한채영)
Han Ga-In (한가인)
Han Hyo Joo (한효주)
Han Ji-hye (한지혜)
Han Suk-kyu (한석규)
Harisu (하리수)
Daniel Henney (다니엘 헤니)
Hyun Bin (현빈)
Jang Dong-gun (장동건)
Jang Hyuk (장혁)
Jang Jin-young (장진영}
Jang Na-ra (장나라)
Jeon Ji-hyun (전지현)
Jeon Doh-Youn (전도연)
Ji Sung (지성)
Jo In-song (조인성)
Jo Shin-ae (조신애) Shin-ae (신애)
Jo Yoon-hee (조윤희)
Jun Ji-hyun (전지현)
Kang Dong-won (강동원)
Daniel Dae Kim - (Lost, Angel, CSI, etc. born in Korea migrated to US )
Sandra Oh - (Grey's Anatomy, Princess Diaries)
Yunjin Kim - (Lost)
Kim Ah-jung (김아중)
Kim Dong Wan (김동완)
Kim Hee-sun (김희선)
Kim Hye-su (김혜수)
Kim Hyo-jin (김효진)
Kim Hyun-ju (김현주)
Kim Jae-won (김재원)
Kim Nam-joo (김남주)
Kim Sa-rang (김사랑)
Kim Sun-ah (김선아)
Kim Tae-Hee (김태희)
Kim Yoon-jin (김윤진)
Ko Ah-seong (고아성)
Go So Young (고소영)
Kwon Sang-woo (권상우)
Lee Byung-hun (이병헌)
Lee Da Hae (이다해)
Lee Dong-Wook (이동욱)
Lee Eun-ju (이은주)
Lee Hana (이하나)
Lee Hyo-ri (이효리)
Lee Jun Ki(이준기)
Lee Jung-hyun (이정현)
Lucy Lee
Lee Mi-ja, singer
Lee Na-young (이나영)
Lee Sa-bi (이사비)
Lee Yoo-jin (이유진)
Lee Young-ae (이영애)
Minka
Nam Sang Mi (남상미)
Dennis Joseph O'Neil
Pak Chae-rim (박채림) Chae-rim (채림)
Patti Kim, singer
Park Han-byul (박한별)
Park Ji-yoon (박지윤)
Park Sang-min (박상민)
Park Sol-mi (박솔미)
Park Soo-ae (박수애)
Park Yong-ha (박용하)
Park Yoon-Hee (박윤희)
Ryu Shi-won (류시원)
Sin Min-ah (신민아)
Son Ye-jin (손예진)
Song Il Gook (송일국)
Song Gang-ho (송강호)
Song Hye-kyo (송혜교)
Song Seung-hun (송승헌)
Song Yun-ah (송윤아)
Won Bin (원빈)
Yoo Chae-yeong (유채영)
Yoon Chan (윤찬)
Yoon Son-ha (윤손하)
Yang Mi Kyung (양미경)

Filmmakers

Ahn Byeong-ki
Bong Joon-ho (봉준호)
Hong Sang-su (홍상수)
Im Kwon-taek (임권택)
Jang Jun-hwan (장준환)
Kim Ji-woon (김지운)
Kim Ki-duk (김기덕)
Lee Chang-dong (이창동)
Michael Kang (강희진)
Park Chan-wook (박찬욱)
Park Kwang-su (박광수)
Nelson Shin
Shin Sang-ok (신상옥)
Song Hae-seong (송해성)
Yoon Je-kyoon (윤제균)

Poets and authors

See also: List of Korean language poets

Jeong Cheol (or Chong Ch'ol) (정철)
Kang Chol-hwan (강철환), author of The Aquariums of Pyongyang
Ko Un (고은), poet (born 1933)
Joo Duk-In, Renown Korean poet based in Australia, author of the meaning of meanings novel published by Bloomsbury.

Businesspeople

See also: :Category:South Korean businesspeople

Doohyung Kang (강두형)
Chung Ju-yung (정주영)
Chung Mong-hun (정몽헌)
Kim Woo-jung (김우중)
Kim Yong-san (김용산)
Lee Byung-chul (이병철)
Lee Kun-Hee (이건희)

Historical leaders

''See also: List of Korean monarchs

Gwanggaeto Taewang (광개토대왕), the 19th ruler of King of Goguryeo who brought the empire to its military height.
Eulji Mundeok (을지문덕) 6th century Goguryeo general who repelled a vast Chinese infantry invasion
Yang Manchun (양만춘), the Goguryeo general who repelled a massive Tang army at the Siege of Ansi Fortress, leading to Tang Taizong's first defeat ever.
Yeon Gaesomun (연개소문), the first Dae Mangniji ("Great Prime Minister") of Goguryeo, and military dictator.
King Munmu (문무왕), the 30th king of the Silla. and he unified three Kingdoms.
King Go (고왕), founder of Balhae, a state in ancient Manchuria
Emperor Taejo (고려 태조), the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty.
Gang Gam-chan (강감찬), the military commander during the early days of Goryeo Dynasty.
King Gongmin (공민왕), The king of Goryeo Dynasty which expels the Mongol.
King Taejo (조선 태조), the founder and the first king of the Joseon Dynasty.
King Sejong the Great (세종대왕), creating the native Korean alphabet Hangul.
Seong Sam-Mun (성삼문), one of the inventors of the Korean alphabet and Korean martyr.
Yi Sun-sin (이순신), respected as one of the greatest admirals and military leaders in world history.
King Jeongjo (조선 정조), the 22th king of the Joseon Dynasty
Empress Myeongseong (명성황후), the empress who Korea is famous.
An Jung-geun (안중근) He assassinated Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi.
Dosan Ahn Chang-ho (도산 안창호), patriot
Kim Gu (김구), patriot and the sixth and last president of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.

Politicians

See also: President of South Korea

Ban Ki-moon (반기문) 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations
Chang Myon (장면) Prime Minister, 1960-1961
Choi Kyu-ha (최규하) President, 1979-1980
Chun Doo-hwan (전두환) President, 1980-1988
Chung Mong-jun (정몽준)
Kim Dae-jung (김대중) President, 1998-2003
Kim Il-sung (김일성) North Korean Communist dictator, 1948-1993
Kim Jong-il (김정일) North Korean Communist dictator, 1993-present
Kim Jong-pil (김종필)
Kim Gu (김구)(1876-1949)
Kim Young-sam (김영삼) President, 1993-1998
Lee Myung-Bak (이명박)
Lee Bum Seok (이범석)
Lee Hoi-chang (이회창)
Lee Hun Jai (이헌재)
Lee Hae-chan (이해찬)
Lyuh Woon-Hyung (여운형)
Park Chung-hee (박정희) Military ruler, 1961-1963; President, 1963-1979
Rhee Syng-man (이승만) President, 1948-1960
Roh Moo-hyun (노무현) President, 2003-present
Roh Tae-woo (노태우) President, 1988-1993
Yun Bo-seon (윤보선) President, 1960-1962

Religious leaders

See also: List of Korean Buddhists

Moon Sun-myung (문선명) - Founder of the Unification Church
David Yong-gi Cho (조용기) - Founder/Pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, the world's largest church.
Ham Seok-heon (함석헌) - Quaker leader and human rights activist.
Chung Hyun-kyung (정현경) - Feminist theologian and peace activist.
St. Andrew Tae-geon Kim (김대건) - First Korean Roman Catholic priest and martyr.
Hae Jong Kim - Bishop of the United Methodist Church
Stephen Cardinal Sou-hwan Kim (김수환) - Former Roman Catholic Archbishop of Seoul (1968-1998)
Nicholas Jin-suk Cheong (정진석) - Roman Catholic Archbishop of Seoul (1998-present).
Young Shik Rhee (이영식) - theologian, peace activist and educator; founder of Daegu University.
Myung Seok Jung (정명석) - Founder of Providence Church, currently wanted for [...] and other crimes.
Jun Gon Kim (김준곤) - Founder of Korea Campus Crusade for Christ.
Park Hyung-Nong (박형룡) -A systematic theologian
Yoo Jin So (유진소) - Founder of All Nations's Church in Los Angelos.
Han In Sang - General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Scholars

Kim Yong-ok (김용옥), philosopher
Ju Si-gyeong (주시경), linguist
Yi I (이이), philosopher
Yi Hwang (이황) Confucian philosopher
Ichadon (이차돈) Buddhist monk buddhist monk/advisor to Silla king
Ji Ho, linguist, diplomat
Jeong Yak-yong (정약용)

Scientists and engineers

Lee Whi-so (이휘소) aka Benjamin Lee, theoretical physicist (1935-1977)
Hwang Woo-suk (황우석), controversial biomedical scientist
Chae Yun-ui Goryeo Dynasty scientist, inventor of metal movable type.
Choe Mu-seon Goryeo Dynasty scientist, inventor, and innovator.
Lee Jong-wook (이종욱), late Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO)
Jang Young Sil (장영실), engineer and scientist during the Choson Dynasty
Kim Soon-kwon (김순권), nominated three times for the Nobel Prize due to his investigations and projects regarding corn.
Kwang-Yul Cha(차광렬), controversial biomedical scientist

Athletes

See also: List of South Korean footballers, List of Korean boxers

Dong Keun Park 태권도 Legendary Taekwondo Champion of the 1960's
Jong Song-Ok (정성옥), North Korean; championship of Marathon in 1999
Ahn Jung-hwan (안정환), footballer in Bundesliga MSV Duisburg
Cha Bum-keun (차범근), footballer in Bundesliga
Choi Hong-Man (최홍만), K-1 Professional KickBoxer
Choi Hee-seop (최희섭), former MLB player, currently plays in South Korea's Professional Baseball League.
Hong Myung-bo (홍명보), footballer
Ha Seung-Jin, Professional basketball player currently playing in the development league.
Kim Byung-hyun (김병현), MLB player-plays for the Florida Marlins
Kim Mi-hyun (김미현), LPGA Player
Sunny Kim (김선우), MLB player.
Lee Chun-soo (이천수), footballer
Lee Seung Yeop (이승엽), NPB baseball player
Lee Hyung-Taik (이형택), tennis player
Nam Sung-yong (남승룡), marathoner
Park Chan-ho (박찬호), MLB player-plays for the Express, a minor league club for the Houston Astros
Park Ji-sung (박지성), footballer in English club Manchester United
Pak Se-ri (박세리), LPGA Player
Seol Ki-hyeon (설기현), footballer in English club Fulham F.C.
Sohn Kee-chung (손기정), Olympic Marathon gold medallist
Birdie Kim (born Kim Ju-yun), LPGA player and 2005 Women's Open champion
Hines Ward (하인스 워드), NFL All-Pro Bowl wide receiver
Jeannie Kim, aka "Lotus" WOW wrestler
Steve Small, aka "Stevo" WOW wrestler
Peter Bell, Australian rules football player
Michelle Wie (Korean name Wi Seong-mi (위성미)), LPGA player
Jeanette Lee, WPBA professional pool player
Joo Se Hyuk(주세혁), Table tennis, defensive chopper
Jim Paek (백지선), Pro ice hockey player
Richard Park (박용수) Pro ice hockey player
Myung Jae Nam (명재남) Hapkido master, founder of Hankido (1938-1999)
Chi In-Jin(지인진) Professional boxer, a current WBC world champion
Mingi Kim (김민지) Lacrosse Player, Swimmer, and Korean American extraordinaire
Eugene Chung former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League
John Lee All-American placekicker for the UCLA Bruins football team from 1982-1985. He was the 32nd pick selected in the 1986 NFL draft and later played 1 year for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was inducted to the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.
Denis Kang MMA middle-weight fighter
Tae-Hwan Park Swimmer

External links

List of Actors and Actresses of Korea

ko:한국의 인물 ja:韓国の著名人一覧