List of people of Korean descent
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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.
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[edit] Artists
[edit] Models
- Hye Rim Park
- Lee Pa-ni
- Natasha Yi
- Sung Hi Lee
- Joo Ji Hoon (주지훈)
- Shaun Coveley
[edit] 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
[edit] 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)
- 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 - (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 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 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 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, 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 Son-ha (윤손하)
- Yang Mi Kyung (양미경)
- Rain (비)
[edit] Filmmakers
- 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)
[edit] 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.
[edit] Musicians
See also: List of Korean pop artists
- Bae Seul Gi
- Baek Ji Young
- Big Bang
- Big Mama
- BoA
- Brown Eyed Girls
- Brown Eyes
- Buzz
- Chae Yeon
- Cho Yong-pil
- Clazziquai
- DJ DOC
- Dong Bang Shin Ki
- Epik High
- Eun Ji Won
- Eru
- Fly To The Sky
- F.T. Island
- SS501
- Seotaiji (서태지)
- Haha
- Hong Kyung Min
- Lee Hyori
- Hyun Young
- Insooni
- Ivy
- KCM
- Kim Jong Kook
- Lee Jung
- Lee Jung Hyun
- Lee Seung Gi
- Lee Soo Young
- Lee Seung Cheol
- Lexy
- Lim Jeong Hee
- MC The Max
- M to M
- Jewelry
- Park Jin Young
- Rain (비)
- See Ya
- SG Wannabe
- Shin Hae Chul
- Shinhwa
- Sung Si Kyung
- Super Junior
- Girls' Generation
- Tei
- V.O.S.
- Wax
- Wheesung
- Wonder Girls
- Younha
[edit] Businesspeople
See also: Category: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 Young-Bae (김영배)
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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
[edit] Scientists and engineers
- Lee Whi-so (이휘소) aka Benjamin Lee, theoretical physicist (1935-1977)
- Hwang Woo-suk (황우석), controversial biomedical scientist
- Choe 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[1][2]
[edit] Athletes
See also: List of South Korean footballers, List of Korean boxers
- Dong Keun Park (박동근), Legendary Taekwondo Champion of the 1960s[1]
- 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
- Nam Sung-yong (남승룡), marathoner
- Angela Park, Brazilian golfer on the LPGA tour
- Park Chan-ho (박찬호), MLB player-plays for the Express, a minor league club 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)
- Emily Hong Lacrosse Player, Fencer, 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
- Park Tae-hwan (박태환) Swimmer
- Jong Song-Ok (정성옥), North Korean; championship of Marathon in 1999
- Park Sung-Hyun Olympic medal winner Archery
[edit] 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
[edit] References
- ^ Bruce Flamm, "The Columbia University 'Miracle' Study: Flawed and Fraud", Skeptical Inquirer, September/October 2004
- ^ California Funds Korean Cloning, Wired magazine, March 2007
