1946 – 2009
South Korean president from 2003 to 2008 who promoted democratic reforms and progressive policies before his tragic death by suicide in 2009.
1870 – 1917
Korean noble (1870-1917)
1897 – 1990
South Korean journalist and politician who served as the second President of South Korea from 1960 to 1962 following the April Revolution that toppled Syngman Rhee's government.
1875 – 1965
South Korea's first president who served from 1948 to 1960, establishing the republic but ruling with increasingly authoritarian methods until his overthrow.
1872 – 1959
Korean Joseon dynasty and Japanese-ruled Korean bureaucrat, politician, liberalism and social activists (1872-1959)
1924 – 2009
South Korean president from 1998 to 2003 who won the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to improve relations with North Korea through his "Sunshine Policy."
1960 – 2020
South Korean film director best known for his provocative and controversial films including "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring" and "3-Iron," who won the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival.
1995 – Present
South Korean singer and actress who gained international fame as a member of the K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, one of the most successful Korean musical acts worldwide.
1997 – Present
South Korean-New Zealand singer and member of the K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, known for her vocals and international solo career.
1944 – Present
South Korean diplomat who served as the 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations from 2007 to 2016.
1984 – 2003
South Korean poet and LGBT rights activist who advocated for sexual minority rights through his writing before his death at age 19.
1982 – Present
North Korean defector who claimed to be the first person born in a political prison camp to escape and tell his story. His autobiography 'Escape from Camp 14' brought international attention to North Korean human rights abuses.
1993 – Present
Human rights activist and author who defected from North Korea as a teenager and wrote the bestselling memoir "In Order to Live" about her escape and experiences.
1977 – Present
South Korean rapper and singer who achieved global fame with his viral hit "Gangnam Style," which became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views.
1970 – Present
South Korean novelist who won the 2016 Man Booker International Prize for her novel "The Vegetarian" and received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature.
1996 – Present
South Korean rapper and singer who is a member of the K-pop girl group BLACKPINK and has achieved success as a solo artist.
1997 – Present
South Korean singer and youngest member of the globally successful K-pop boy band BTS, known for his vocals and solo music career.
1993 – Present
South Korean singer, songwriter, and actress who has achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success as one of the country's most prominent solo artists.
1987 – Present
South Korean actor and singer who gained international fame through Korean dramas like "Boys Over Flowers" and "The Heirs."
1918 – 2002
Korean army general who founded and developed the martial art of taekwondo, establishing it as an international sport and self-defense system.
1917 – 1979
Military officer who ruled South Korea as president from 1963 to 1979, leading the country's rapid economic development but maintaining authoritarian rule.
1967 – 2013
South Korean men's rights activist and entrepreneur who campaigned against gender discrimination and founded several advocacy organizations.
1931 – 2021
11th and 12th President of the Republic of Korea (1931~2021)
1927 – 2015
South Korean president from 1993 to 1998 who led the country's transition to full democracy and oversaw economic liberalization reforms.
1985 – Present
South Korean actor known for his roles in popular television dramas including "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" and "Descendants of the Sun."
