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)
• Beverly Stormer

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 (조 마가렛), U.S. Comedian/Actress (Ethnic Korean)
• Choi Jeong-yoon (최정윤)
• Choi Ji-woo (최지우)
• Choi Kang-hee (최강희)
• Choi Min-sik (최민식)
• Chu Sang-mi (추상미)
• Gam Wu-seong (감우성)
• Gong Yoo (공유)
• 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 Doh-Youn (전도연)
• Ji Sung (지성)
• Jo In-song (조인성)
• Sin-ae (신애)
• Jo Yoon-hee (조윤희)
• Jun Ji-hyun (전지현)
• Kang Dong-won (강동원)
• Daniel Dae Kim (다니엘 대 김) - (Lost, Angel, CSI, etc. born in Korea migrated to US )
• Sandra Oh (산드라 오) - (Grey's Anatomy, Princess Diaries)
• Yunjin Kim (김윤진) - (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 Ji-soo (김지수)
• Kim Mu-saeng (김무생)
• Kim Nam-joo (김남주)
• Kim Ok-bin (김옥빈)
• 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 Bobby, U.S. Comedian/Actor (Ethnic Korean)
• 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 (이미자), singer
• Lee Na-young (이나영)
• Lee Sa-bi (이사비)
• Lee Si-yeon (이시연)
• 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 (패티김), singer
• Park Han-byul (박한별)
• Park Ji-yoon (박지윤)
• Park Sang-min (박상민)
• Park Sol-mi (박솔미)
• Soo Ae (박수애)
• Park Yong-ha (박용하)
• Park Yoon-Hee (박윤희)
• Park Yoon-Ki (박윤기)
• 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)
• Uhm Ji-won (엄지원)
• Won Bin (원빈)
• Yoo Chae-yeong (유채영)
• Yoon Eun Hye (윤은혜)
• Yoon Chan (윤찬)
• Yoon Shin Hye (윤신혜)
• Yoon Son-ha (윤손하)
• Yang Mi Kyung (양미경)
• Cha In-Pyo (차인표)
• Rain (비)
• Ahn Byeong-ki (안병기)
• 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)

Park Chan-Joon (박찬준)

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.

Musicians

See also: List of Korean pop artists

• A'ST1
• As One
• Bae Seul Gi
• Baek Ji Young
• Battle
• Big Bang
• Big Mama
• BoA
• Brown Eyed Girls
• Brown Eyes
• Buzz
• Chae Yeon
• Cho Yong-pil
• Clazziquai
• Davichi
• DJ DOC
• Dong Bang Shin Ki
• Epik High
• Eun Ji Won
• Eru
• Fly To The Sky
• F.T. Island
• Karen O
• SS501
• Seotaiji (서태지)
• Haha
• Hong Kyung Min
• Lee Hyori
• Hyun Young
• Insooni
• Ivy
• KCM
• Kim Jong Kook
• Koyote
• Lee Jung
• Lee Jung Hyun
• Lee Seung Gi
• Lee Soo Young
• Lee Seung Cheol
• Lexy
• Lim Jeong Hee
• MC Mong
• MC The Max
• M to M
• Jewelry
• Park Jin Young
• Rain (비)
• See Ya
• Se7en (singer)
• SG Wannabe
• SHINee
• Shin Hae Chul
• Shinhwa
• Sung Si Kyung
• Super Junior
• Girls' Generation
• Tei
• Trish Doan Former bass player of Kittie
• V.O.S.
• Wax
• Wheesung
• Wonder Girls
• Xing (band)
• Younha

Businesspeople

See also: South Korean businesspeople

• Chung Ju-yung (정주영)
• Chung Mong-hun (정몽헌)
• Kim Woo-jung (김우중)
• Kim Yong-san (김용산)
• Lee Byung-chul (이병철)
• Lee Kun-Hee (이건희)
• Kim Yoǔng-Bae (김영배)

Historical leaders

See also: List of Korean monarchs

• King Gwanggaeto the Great (광개토대왕), 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), Goguryeo general who repelled a massive Tang army at the Siege of Ansi Fortress, leading to Tang Taizong's first defeat.
• Yeon Gaesomun (연개소문), the first Dae Mangniji ("Great Prime Minister") of Goguryeo, and military dictator.
• King Munmu (문무왕), 30th king of the Silla dynasty, unifier of the three Kingdoms.
• King Go (고왕), founder of Balhae, a state in ancient Manchuria and Northern Korean Peninsula.
• Emperor Taejo (고려 태조), founder of the Goryeo Dynasty.
• Gang Gam-chan (강감찬), military commander during the early Goryeo Dynasty.
• King Gongmin (공민왕), king of Goryeo Dynasty who expelled Mongolians from Korea.
• King Taejo (조선 태조), the founder and first king of the Joseon Dynasty.
• King Sejong the Great (세종대왕), invented the native Korean alphabet hangul.
• Yi Sun-sin (이순신), respected as one of the greatest admirals and military leaders in world history.
• King Jeongjo (조선 정조), 22nd king of the Joseon Dynasty, called the reformation ruler in Korea.
• Empress Myeongseong (명성황후), one of the prominent queens of Korea, the first official wife of Emperor Gojong.
• An Jung-geun (안중근), patriot who assassinated Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi.
• Ahn Chang-ho (도산 안창호), Korean independence activist.
• Kim Gu (김구), Korean independence activist 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), patriot and the sixth and last president of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.
• Kim Young-sam (김영삼) President, 1993-1998
• Lee Myung-Bak (이명박) President, 2008-Present
• Lee Beom-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, 2003-2008
• 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 rape 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)
• Hong Emee Lee wandering medieval philosopher

"Scientists and engineers"

• Lee Whi-so (이휘소) aka Benjamin Lee, theoretical physicist (1935-1977)
• Hwang Woo-suk (황우석), controversial biomedical "scientist" who is infamous for his fraudulent research and not regarded as a scientist by most
• 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 (박동근), Legendary Taekwondo Champion of the 1960s
• 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), baseball player.
• Lee Chun-soo (이천수), footballer
• Lee Seung Yeop (이승엽), NPB baseball player
• Lee Hyung-Taik (이형택), tennis player
• Moon Dae-Sung, 2004 Olympic Taekwon-Do Gold medalist
• Nam Sung-yong (남승룡), marathoner
• Angela Park, Brazilian golfer on the LPGA tour
• Park Chan-ho (박찬호), MLB player who pitches for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• 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), Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver; Super Bowl XL MVP
• 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 former WBC world champion
• Ki Soo Kim Professional boxer, the first Korean world champion (WBA, WBC)
• 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
• Park Tae-hwan (박태환) Swimmer
• Jong Song-Ok (정성옥), North Korean; championship of Marathon in 1999
• Park Sung-Hyun Olympic medal winner Archery
• Eric Bigornia Karate master, Escrima black belt, mixed-martial artist

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• Korean people
• List of Goguryeo people
• List of Baekje people
• List of Silla people
• List of Goryeo people
• List of Joseon Dynasty people
• List of Korean Americans
• List of people by nationality

References

External links

• List of Actors and Actresses of Korea