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)
* [Yuna (윤아- 소녀시대)

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)

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":

* 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.

cholars

* 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 [Bruce Flamm, [http://csicop.org/si/2004-09/miracle-study.html "The Columbia University 'Miracle' Study: Flawed and Fraud"] , "Skeptical Inquirer", September/October 2004] [ [http://blog.wired.com/biotech/2007/03/california_fund.html California Funds Korean Cloning] , "Wired" magazine, March 2007]

Athletes

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

* Dong Keun Park (박동근), Legendary Taekwondo Champion of the 1960s [http://www.lacancha.com/dongkeunpark.html]
* 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

ee 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

* [http://koreanfilm.org/actors.html List of Actors and Actresses of Korea]