List of people of Korean descent

This is a list of notable Koreans or notable 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 "Park Ji-Sung" is "Park"), unless the person has decided to Westernize his or her name.

Artists

Visual artists

• Choi Ji-ryong, cartoonist
• Shin Seung-Heon/Simon Shin, most successful artist on Earth

Media artists

• Paik Nam-June

Dancers

• Sujin Kang
• Hong 10 Professional Break Dancer; Red Bull BC One 2006, 2013
• Physicx Professional Break Dancer

Filmmakers

• Ahn Byeong-ki
• Bong Joon-ho
• Hong Sang-soo
• Im Kwon-taek
• Jang Joon-hwan
• Kim Ji-woon
• Kim Ki-duk
• Lee Chang-dong
• Park Chan-wook
• Nelson Shin
• Song Hae-sung
• Yoon Je-kyoon

Poets and authors

• Baek Minseok
• Baek Seok
• Bang Hyun-seok
• Chae Ho-ki
• Chan Jeong
• Cheong Chi-yong (poet)
• Choi Seung-ho (poet)
• Cho Sung-ki (novelist)
• Choi Il-nam (novelist)
• Choi Soo-cheol
• Chun Woon-young
• Do Jong-hwan (poet)
• Gu Hyo-seo
• Ha Geun-chan (author)
• Hailji (author)
• Han Bi-ya, a travel writer
• Han Mahlsook (novelist)
• Ha Seong-ran (author)
• Heo Su-gyeong (poet)
• Hong Sung-won (author)
• Hwang In-suk (poet)
• Hwang Ji-u (poet)
• Hyun Kil-un
• Jang Eun-jin
• Jang Jeong-il
• Jang Seok-nam (poet)
• Jeon Gyeong-rin
• Jeon Sang-guk
• Jeong Do-sang
• Jung Ihyun
• Jung Hansuk
• Jung Mi-kyung
• Kim Byeol-ah
• Kye Yong-mook
• Han Chang-hun (author)
• Kang Chol-hwan, an author of The Aquariums of Pyongyang
• Kang Sok-kyong
• Kang Young-sook
• Ko Un
• Kim Sa-in
• Kim Eon
• Kim Gi-taek
• Kim Gwangrim
• Kim Gyeong-uk
• Kim Haki
• Kim Hu-ran
• Kim Jae-Young
• Kim Jong-gil
• Kim Ju-yeong
• Kim Kwang-kyu
• Kim Kyung-ju
• Kim Mi-wol
• Kim Sang-ok
• Kim Sinyong
• Kim Seon-wu
• Kim Seong-dong
• Kim Seung-hee
• Kim Sowol
• Kim Tak-hwan
• Kim Wonu
• Kim Yeong-hyeon
• Kim Yong-man
• Kwak Jae-gu
• Kwon Jeong Saeng
• Kwon Yeo-sun
• Lee Eun-sang, poet
• Lee Kang-baek, Korean playwright
• Lee Ho-cheol
• Lee Hye-gyeong (1960)
• Lee Hyeonggi (born 1933)
• Lee In-hwa
• Lee Jangwook (author and poet)
• Lee Ki-ho (author)
• Lee Mun-ku (author)
• Lee Oyoung, author and critic
• Lee Soon-won
• Lee Sungboo, poet and novelist
• Lee Yuksa
• Lee Yun-gi
• Lee Yuntaek, dramatist and poet
• Ma Jonggi (born 1939)
• Lee Mankyo
• Moon Chung-hee
• Moon Taejun
• Nam Jung-hyun
• Oh Kyu-won (born 1947)
• Oh Sangwon (author)
• Oh Soo-yeon (author)
• Oh Taeseok
• Park Chong-hwa, novelist
• Paik Gahuim
• Park Hee-jin
• Park Hyoung-su
• Park Jaesam (born 1933)
• Park Jeong-dae
• Park Mok-wol
• Park Kyung-ni
• Ynhui Park
• Park Sang-ryung
• Park Sangsoon
• Park Taesun
• Park Tae-won
• Park Yeonghan
• Park Yong-rae
• Han Yong-un
• Ra Hee-duk
• Seo Jeong-in
• Seo Hajin
• Shin Yong-mok (born 1974)
• Sim Yunkyung
• So Young-en
• Song Gisuk
• Song Giwon
• Song Sokze
• Song Yeong
• Sung Chan-gyeong (1930–2013)
• Yi In-seong
• Yi Kyoung-ja
• Yun Dong-ju

Fashion designers

• Andre Kim
• Richard Chai
• Cho Young Wan

Businesspeople

• Ahn Cheol-Soo
• Chung Ju-yung
• Chung Mong-hun
• Euh Yoon-dae
• Lee Byung-chul
• Lee Kun-Hee
• David Chang

Entertainers

Actors

• Jang Keun-suk
• Jung Joon-ho
• Daniel Dae Kim
• Jung Il-woo
• Grace Park
• Lee Dong-wook
• Park Yoochun

Comedians

Ryan Bang Won Ho Chung Defconn H-Eugene Margaret Cho Haha Jeong Hyeong-don Jeong Jun-ha Ji Sang-ryeol Ji Suk-jin Kang Ho-dong Kim Byung-man

Kim GuRa Lee Su-geun Lee Kyung-kyu Park Myeong-su Noh Hong-chul Park Kyung-lim Gil Seong-joon Shim Hyung-rae Song Sae-byeok Yoo Jae-suk

Models

• Hyoni Kang
• Lee Pa-ni
• Sung Hi Lee
• Ju Ji-hoon

Singers

• Bae Suzy
• Jang Keun-suk
• Karen O
• Kim Junsu
• Kim Jaejoong
• Kim Tae-yeon
• Luna
• Park Bom
• Hyolyn (Kim Hyo Jung)
• Song Jieun
• Park Cho-rong
• Yoon Bo-mi
• Jung Eun-ji
• Son Na-eun
• Kim Nam-joo
• Oh Ha-young
• Heo Ga-yoon
• Jung Dae Hyun
• Kim Jong-Kook
• Haha
• Psy

◌ Rain

• Patti Kim

• Sandeul

• Jessica Jung
• Sunny
• Tiffany
• Kim Hyo-yeon
• Kwon Yuri
• Choi Soo-young
• Im Yoona
• Seo Joo-hyun

Classical musicians

• Chang Han-na
• Chang, Sarah
• Chung Myung-whun
• Chung Kyung-wha
• Jo Su Mi
• Hong Hei-kyung
• Paik Kun-Woo
• John Myung

Historical Leaders

Lawyers

• Song Sang-Hyun, President of the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Politicians

• Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations
• Chun Doo-hwan, President, 1980–1988
• Roh Tae-woo, President, 1988–1993
• Kim Young-sam, President, 1993–1998
• Kim Dae-jung, President, 1998–2003
• Roh Moo-hyun, President, 2003–2008
• Lee Myung-bak, President, 2008–2012
• Park Geun Hye, President, 2013–Present
• Lee Hoi-chang
• Lee Hun Jai
• Lee Hae-chan
• Park Jung-Hee
• Kim Il-Sung, Leader of The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 1948–1994
• Kim Jong-Il, Supreme Leader of The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 1994–2011
• Kim Jong-Un, Supreme Leader of The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 2011– present

Religious Leaders

• Andrew Kim Taegon, was the first Korean-born Catholic priest and Canonized Saint on May 6, 1984, by the Blessed (Pope) John Paul II in the Republic of Korea(August 21, 1862 – September 16, 1846)
• David Yonggi Cho – Founder/Pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church.
• Hae Jong Kim – Bishop of the United Methodist Church.
• Nicolas Cheong Jin-Suk – Roman Catholic Archbishop of Seoul (1998–present).
• Paul Kim (bishop) – Anglican Primate of Korea and Archbishop of Seoul (2009–present)
• Sun Myung Moon – Founder of the Unification Church

Scholars, Philosopher and Social Activists

• Kim Yong-ok, philosopher
• Ham Seok-heon
• Ko Un
• Lee Yuksa
• Moon Ik-hwan
• Hwang Sok-yong
• Jang Jun-ha
• Kwon Young-ghil
• Roh Hoe-chan
• Jeon Tae-il

Scientists and Engineers

• Kim Soon-kwon, corn biologist.
• Hwang Jun-muk, Mathematician of Algebraic geometry and Differential geometry.
• Kim Jeong-han, Mathematician.
• Lee Whi-soh, theoretical physicist.
• Woo Jang-choon, agricultural scientist and botanist.
• Philip Kim, physicist.
• Kim Bit-nae-ri, biologist.
• Hongkun Park, chemist.
• Donhee Ham, electrical engineer.
• Joon Yun, radiologist.

Athletes

• Jae-Kwon Hwang, as known as Ca-Hwang, footballer
• Dong Keun Park, Legendary Taekwondo Champion of the 1960s
• Ahn Jung-Hwan, footballer
• Choo Shin-Soo, MLB player, plays for the Texas Rangers
• Cha Bum-Kun, footballer in Bundesliga
• Hines Ward, American Football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Hong-Man Choi, K-1 Professional KickBoxer
• Hee Seop Choi, former MLB player, currently plays in South Korea's Professional Baseball League.
• Hong Myung-Bo, footballer
• Ha Seung-Jin, Professional basketball player currently playing in the Korean Basketball League.
• Byung-Hyun Kim, former MLB player
• Mi Hyun Kim, LPGA Player
• Sun-Woo Kim, baseball player.
• Jung Kil Kim, taekwondo champion
• Lee Chun-Soo, footballer
• Lee Seung-Yeop, NPB baseball player
• Lee Hyung-Taik, tennis player
• Lee Yong-Kyu, baseball player
• Moon Dae-Sung, 2004 Olympic Taekwon-Do Gold medalist
• Chan-ho Park, MLB player
• Park Ji-Sung, footballer. First ever Korean to win the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League with Manchester United.
• Se Ri Pak, LPGA Player
• Seol Ki-hyeon, footballer
• Birdie Kim (born Kim Ju-yun), LPGA player and 2005 Women's Open champion
• Joo Se Hyuk, Table tennis, defensive chopper
• Jim Paek, Pro ice hockey player
• Myung Jae Nam Hapkido master, founder of Hankido (1938–1999)
• In Jin Chi Professional boxer, a former WBC world champion
• Ki Soo Kim Professional boxer, the first Korean world champion (WBA, WBC)
• Park Tae-Hwan Swimmer
• Jong Song-Ok, North Korean; championship of Marathon in 1999
• Park Sung-Hyun Olympic medal winner Archery
• Kim Yuna figure skater; 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist
• Sohn Kee-Chung Marathon Runner; 1936 Olympic Gold Medalist
• Nam Sung-yong Marathon Runner; 1936 Olympic Bronze Medalist
• Ryu, Hyun-Jin Professional baseball player, currently playing in Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB

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