South Korea has produced many globally recognised figures. Whether it's chart-topping musicians, famous actors, athletes, or leaders, here are just 20 of the most famous Koreans you should know.
| Rank | Name (Hangul) | Profession | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ban Ki-moon (반기문) | Diplomat | UN Secretary-General |
| 2 | Bong Joon Ho (봉준호) | Film Director | Parasite (Oscar winner) |
| 3 | Gong Yoo (공유) | Actor | Train to Busan |
| 4 | Son Heung-min (손흥민) | Footballer | Tottenham Hotspur captain |
| 5 | Psy (싸이) | Singer | Gangnam Style |
| 6 | Lee Min-ho (이민호) | Actor | Boys Over Flowers |
| 7 | IU (Lee Ji-eun, 아이유) | Singer / Actress | Good Day |
| 8 | Park Seo-joon (박서준) | Actor | Itaewon Class |
| 9 | V (Kim Tae-hyung, 뷔) | Singer | BTS member |
| 10 | Jun Ji-hyun (전지현) | Actress | My Sassy Girl |
| 11 | Song Hye-kyo (송혜교) | Actress | Descendants of the Sun |
| 12 | Hyun Bin (현빈) | Actor | Crash Landing on You |
| 13 | Youn Yuh-jung (윤여정) | Actress | Minari (Oscar winner) |
| 14 | Park Bo-gum (박보검) | Actor | Reply 1988 |
| 15 | Kim Soo-hyun (김수현) | Actor | Moon Embracing the Sun |
| 16 | Jungkook (Jeon Jung-kook, 정국) | Singer | BTS member |
| 17 | Kim Min-hee (김민희) | Actress | The Handmaiden |
| 18 | Jennie Kim (김제니, 제니) | Singer / Rapper | BLACKPINK |
| 19 | Lee Jung-jae (이정재) | Actor | Squid Game |
| 20 | Han So-hee (한소희) | Actress | The World of the Married |
| 21 | Choi Woo-shik (최우식) | Actor | Parasite |
| 22 | CL (Lee Chae-rin, 씨엘) | Singer / Rapper | 2NE1 leader |
| 23 | Ryu Hyun-jin (류현진) | Baseball Player | MLB pitcher |
23. Ryu Hyun-jin
Ryu Hyun-jin is a baseball player. He's the first South Korean pitcher to start a Major League Baseball postseason game. As a player, he's precise and calm, having played for MLB teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. In the 2019 season, he got an MLB All-Star nod and remains a Korean sporting icon.
22. CL
CL is the leader of 2NE1. She helped redefine K-pop with her stage presence and bold style. Her solo tracks, such as Lifted, helped her break into the American music scene. Her music fuses hip-hop, pop, and fashion.
21. Choi Woo-shik
Choi Woo-shik rose to fame with his role in the Oscar-winning movie Parasite. Before that, he was in indie dramas and the cult zombie hit Train to Busan. Charming with emotional depth, Choi is one of the most respected actors in South Korea and often picks roles that push the boundaries and challenge stereotypes. He also appeared on the show "Jinny's Kitchen", showing off his love for Korean food.
20. Han So-hee
Han So-hee is a South Korean actress. Her breakout role was in The World of The Married. She's versatile with a magnetic screen presence and one of the most exciting talents in Korean entertainment.
19. Lee Jung-jae
Lee Jung-jae is an experienced South Korean actor, but his global fame came as Seong Gi-hun in Netflix's Squid Game. His career has spanned decades, and he's known for titles like New World and The Housemaid. As an actor, his complex and emotionally driven characters have helped him gain both national and international fame.
18. Jennie Kim
Jennie Kim is a South Korean singer, rapper, and member of the girl group Blackpink. In addition to Blackpink, she also showcased her music as a solo artist in 2018, with the aptly titled SOLO.
17. Kim Min-hee
Kim Min-hee is a South Korean actress who has earned international critical acclaim for her work in arthouse cinema. She first gained attention in Korean dramas and commercial films before shifting her focus to more independent productions.
Her collaboration with acclaimed director Hong Sang-soo produced a string of celebrated films, including Right Now, Wrong Then, On the Beach at Night Alone, and The Woman Who Ran. In 2017, she won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival. In 2020, she was ranked 16th on The New York Times' list of "The 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century."
She also starred in Park Chan-wook's The Handmaiden, which gained a wide international audience. Kim is known for her understated and deeply nuanced performances.
16. Jungkook
Jungkook is a South Korean singer. He's the youngest member of the K-pop group BTS (though age in Korea is a bit different). He's known for his vocals, dancing, and all-around talent. His solo hits, such as Euphoria and Still With You, have been streamed millions of times, and he was one of the most-followed Korean celebrities on social media before deleting his accounts, but creating one for his dog.
on Instagram before deleting his account.
15. Kim Soo-hyun
Kim Soo-hyun is a South Korean actor. His most famous roles include Dream High, Moon Embracing the Sun, and My Love from the Star. He's one of South Korea's highest-paid TV actors and is an ambassador for several brands across Asia.
14. Park Bo-gum
Park Bo-gum is a South Korean actor and music show host. He gained fame from Reply 1988, Love in the Moonlight, and Record of Youth. He's considered one of the most influential Korean actors of his generation.
13. Youn Yuh-jung
Youn Yuh-jung is a legendary Korean actress. With a career spanning over five decades, she made history when she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Minari in 2021, becoming the first Korean actor to ever win an Oscar. She chooses fearless and unconventional roles, and she's been respected in Korean cinema and television for years.
12. Hyun Bin
Hyun Bin is another South Korean actor. He rose to fame with the romantic comedy My Lovely Sam Soon. Later roles in dramas like Secret Garden and Crash Landing on You made him a household name. In addition to drama and romantic roles, Hyun Bin has also played roles in action and thriller dramas, such as Confidential Assignment.
11. Song Hye-kyo
Song Hye-kyo is an actress who rose to prominence in the early 2000s in Autumn in My Heart. Appearances in beloved series like Full House, That Winter, the Wind Blows, and Descendants of the Sun helped make her even more popular. In fact, Descendants of the Sun aired in over 30 countries, significantly increasing her international popularity.
10. Jun Ji-hyun
Jun Ji-hyun is a South Korean actress who's known internationally as Gianna Jun. She was in the 2001 romantic comedy My Sassy Girl, which was one of the highest-grossing Korean films of all time. She enjoyed further success with blockbuster dramas like My Love from the Star and Legend of the Blue Sea, bringing elegance and eccentricity. Rarely appearing in public and being very selective with projects, Jun is also a top-tier model and brand ambassador with enduring star power.
9. V
Kim Tae-hyung is better known by his stage name V. This South Korean singer, songwriter, and actor is one of the most beloved members of the K-pop phenomenon BTS. His distinct vocal tone was put to good use on BTS's discography, including Stigma and Singularity, as well as in his solo music, such as Scenery and Love Me Again. He appeared in the historical drama Hwarang and is known for his fashion sense, creative flair, and being the “visual” of BTS.
8. Park Seo-joon
Park Seo-joon is a South Korean actor who first gained fame from romantic comedies like She Was Pretty and What's Wrong with Secretary Kim. Though initially the "Rom-Com King", his career changed directions with intense roles in Taewon Class and Kill Me, Heal Me, roles with more emotional depth and dramatic range. Outside of Korean dramas, Park Seo-joon has had roles in more international productions like Marvel Studios' The Marvels.
7. IU
IU, or Lee Ji-eun, is one of the most famous singer-songwriters and actresses in South Korea. Debuting at just 15, she quickly gained attention for her vocals and lyrics. UI would transform into a complete artist over the years, writing and composing much of her music. Hits like Good Day, Palette, and Celebrity topped the charts. Beyond music, she has also starred in dramas such as My Mister and Hotel Del Luna, where she was praised for her nuanced performances.
6. Lee Min-ho
Lee Min-ho is often credited with helping to spread the Korean Wave (Hallyu) and Korean culture globally. He shot to stardom in 2009 in the role of Gu Jun-pyo in Boys Over Flowers. This cultural phenomenon made him a household name across Asia and worldwide.
He was then in major K-dramas like City Hunter, The Heirs, Legend of the Blue Sea, and The King: Eternal Monarch. Tall, refined, and calm, Lee Min-ho is a staple of drama and advertising, particularly for brands like Fendi and Boss. He was in the Apple TV+ series Pachinko, which was based on the bestselling novel. With this, he gained even more international recognition.
5. Psy
Psy, born Park Jae-sang, is a South Korean singer, rapper, and producer who became one of the most viral music acts in history. In 2012, his song Gangnam Style took the world by storm, becoming the first YouTube video to surpass one billion views and turning him into a global phenomenon practically overnight. The track's catchy beat and iconic horse-riding dance transcended language barriers and introduced millions of people to Korean pop culture.
4. Son Heung-min
Son Heung-min is South Korea's most celebrated soccer player and one of the most successful Asian athletes in history. The captain of the South Korean National team and the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. As a global ambassador for the sport of soccer, his country, and his club, he was the most expensive Asian player in 2015 and went on to become one of the league's top scorers, winning the Golden Boot in the 2021-22 season.
Known for his speed, finesse, and work ethic, he's a consummate sportsman both on and off the field. He's earned respect from fans, analysts, and other players. In May 2025, he became a legend of European soccer as he helped Tottenham Hotspur, a team that had waited over 17 years for a major trophy, win the UEFA Europa League against Manchester United. Needless to say, Son Heung-min was emotional.
3. Gong Yoo
Gong Yoo, born Gong Ji-cheol in Busan in 1979, is a South Korean actor. He was in the 2007 romantic comedy Coffee Prince, which helped cement his status as a leading man in Korean dramas. He's also appeared in Korean movies, notably in Silenced (2011) and Train to Busan (2016), gaining international acclaim and recognition for his diverse range of roles. He also had a cameo in the Netflix series Squid Game, playing an enigmatic recruiter.
2. Bong Joon Ho
Bong Joon Ho is a South Korean filmmaker who made history at the 2020 Academy Awards when Parasite became the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture. The film also earned him Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film.
Before Parasite, Bong had already established himself as one of Asia's most original storytellers with critically acclaimed films like Memories of Murder, The Host, and Mother. He also directed English-language productions such as Snowpiercer and Okja.
Known for his ability to blend dark humour, social commentary, and suspense, Bong's work often explores class divisions and power dynamics in South Korean society. He remains one of the most influential filmmakers working today.
1. Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is a South Korean diplomat. He's most famous for being the former Secretary-General of the United Nations and one of the most influential South Koreans on the world stage. He was born in 1944 and worked in the South Korean foreign service, rising through the ranks thanks to his calm diplomacy and commitment to international cooperation.
Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth ... these are one and the same fight.
Ban Ki-moon, Former UN Secretary-General
From 2007 to 2016, he served as the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations, championing global action on climate change, gender equality, and sustainable development. During his leadership, he helped launch the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. After leaving the UN, Ban Ki-moon continued to be active in diplomacy, education, and environmental causes. A symbol of integrity, diplomacy, and responsibility, Ban Ki-moon represented South Korea through leadership and service.
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