The following is a list of notable Korean Americans, including original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.
To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Korean American or must have references showing they are Korean American and are notable.
Art and design
Dana Tai Soon Burgess, choreographer, cultural figure Richard Chai, fashion designer Frank Cho, comic book artist (Spider-Man, The New Avengers), writer, and creator (Liberty Meadows) David Choe, abstract artist Michael Choi, comic book artist (Witchblade, X-23 and X-Force) Doo-Ri Chung, fashion designer Peter Chung, animator, creator of cult animated TV series Æon Flux CYJO (Cindy Hwang), photographer, "KYOPO project" Dennis Hwang, artist, Google doodler, game designer and artist of Pokémon Go Derek Kirk Kim, cartoonist and author of critically acclaimed graphic novel Same Difference and Other Stories Nic Cha Kim, founder of Gallery Row in Downtown Los Angeles Scott Kim, puzzlemaster, artist, computer game designer Yu Yeon Kim, curator of art Grace La, designer, principal of La Dallman, professor of architecture, Harvard University Graduate School of Design Il Lee, artist Jae Lee, comic book artist (Namor the Sub-Mariner, Inhumans) Jim Lee, best-selling comic book artist (X-Men, Batman, Superman) and co-creator (Gen13, WildC.A.T.s); co-founder of Image Comics; publisher and chief creative officer of DC Comics Lela Lee, actress and cartoonist, creator of the comic strip and animated cartoons Kim, the Angry Little Asian Girl and Angry Little GirlsLela Lee – "I am Korean American. My parents immigrated and I was born here. I was actually the only daughter to be born in the U.S. I grew up in a suburb of Los Angeles, an hour east of Los Angeles. When I grew up, there were probably two other Asian families and we were made fun of. They would say, "Oh are you Chinese?" And I would say, "No." And they would say, "Are you Japanese?" And I would say, "No." And they would say, "Well, what are you then?" I would say, "I'm Korean" and they would say, "Where is that?" My parents were probably part of the first influx of Koreans to come to the U.S. at that time in the early 70s." Jiha Moon, artist Nam June Paik, Korean-born artist; father of video art Greg Pak, writer, director, actor (Robot Stories) Andy Park, comic book artist (Tomb Raider, X-Men) Peter Shin, a director of Family Guy Peter Sohn, animator at Pixar Animation Studios (The Good Dinosaur, Elemental) Amy Sol, contemporary artist based in Las Vegas, Nevada Tommy Yune, comic book writer and artist (Speed Racer, Robotech) and animation director (Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles)
Business
Nelson Chai, investment banker and former CFO of the New York Stock Exchange Do Won Chang, founder of Forever 21 Charlotte Cho, esthetician, author and co-founder of Soko Glam Timothy Hwang, founder and CEO of FiscalNote and president of the National Youth Association (NYA) Sabrina Kay, founder and chancellor of Fremont College David Kim, former CEO of Baja Fresh Daniel J. Kim, founder of Red Mango James Kim, founder of Amkor Jim Kim, founder of venture capital firm Formation 8 Moon Kook-jin, founder of Kahr Arms, manufacturer of the Desert Eagle Brian Lee, co-founder of Legalzoom.com, ShoeDazzle.com, and The Honest Company Chong Moon Lee, founder of Diamond Multimedia Curtis Lee, founder and CEO of Luxe David Lee, real estate developer Kewsong Lee, CEO of The Carlyle Group Young Lee, co-founder of Pinkberry Thai Lee, CEO and president of SHI International, billionaire Ilhan New, founder of La Choy Jane Park, founder of Julep, cosmetics company James Park, founder and CEO of Fitbit Richard Park, entrepreneur and physician, founder and CEO of urgent care company, CityMD Sung Won Sohn, professor of economics at California State University, former president of LA Hanmi Bank Daewon Song, co-founder of Almost Skateboards James Sun, CEO and founder of GeoPage.com; The Apprentice finalist Lisa Song Sutton, businesswoman, attorney, former Miss Nevada United States and former congressional candidate Gideon Yu, co-owner of the San Francisco 49ers and Executive Chairman and CEO of Bowers & Wilkins Richard Yoo, founder and former CEO of Rackspace
Community leaders and activists
Ahn Changho, early 20th century immigrant community activist and leader, member of Korean independence movement Kenneth Bae, imprisoned by North Korea for human rights activity Emil J. Kang, non-profit arts administrator, curator, professor. Youngest president and first Asian-American to head a major symphony orchestra. First Korean-American to be nominated by the president of the United States for membership in the National Council on the Arts National Endowment for the Arts Angela E. Oh, attorney and social/political activist best known for her role as spokesperson for the Korean American community after the 1992 Los Angeles Riots and her position on President Bill Clinton's One America Initiative Park Yong-man, early 20th century immigrant community activist, member of Korean independence movement Song Oh-kyun, Korean independence activist (originally from Pyongyang, North Korea) Song Yi-kyun, Korean independence activist and aviator (originally from Pyongyang, North Korea)
Criminals
Seung-Hui Cho, murdered 32 people at Virginia Tech before committing suicide with a gun Fullerton Boys, Korean gangsters
Culinary arts
Danny Bowien, chef and owner of Mission Chinese Food in San Francisco and New York David Chang, chef, owner of Momofuku Noodle Bar, Momofuku Ko and Momofuku Ssäm Bar in New York City Roy Choi, co-founder and head chef of Kogi Korean BBQ food trucks and restaurants in Los Angeles Judy Joo, chef, owner of Jinjuu Restaurant (London and Hong Kong) Iron Chef on Iron Chef UK; judge on Iron Chef America and The Next Iron Chef; host of Korean Food Made Simple Cooking Channel; judge on Kitchen Inferno Ann Kim, chef and co-owner of Young Joni and popular pizzerias in Minneapolis, Minnesota Beverly Kim, finalist on Top Chef (Season 9); first winner of Top Chef Last Chance Kitchen; chef-owner of Parachute, Chicago, Illinois Kristen Kish, winner of Top Chef (Season 10); chef at Stir, Boston, Massachusetts Corey Lee, chef-owner of Michelin-starred Benu in San Francisco; former head chef at The French Laundry Edward Lee, contestant on Top Chef (season 9); host of television show Culinary Genius Maangchi (Emily Kim, 김광숙), author, popularizer of Korean cuisine and its preparation
Entertainment
Philip Ahn, actor Ralph Ahn, actor Amy Anderson, stand-up comedian and actress Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, actress (Modern Family) Fred Armisen, actor, comedian Nicole Bilderback, actress Moon Bloodgood, actress Johnny Yong Bosch, actor, best known as Adam Park in Power Rangers Steve Byrne, comedian, actor Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, author, video and filmmaker Katie Chang, actress Timothy Chang, comedian and actor Karen Chee, comedian and comedy writer, Late Night with Seth Meyers Arden Cho, actress, (Teen Wolf, KPOP Demon Hunters) Henry Cho, comedian and actor John Cho, actor born in Seoul, South Korea and raised in Los Angeles, California he appeared in the American Pie franchise and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle as well as the Star Trek reboot series as Hikaru Sulu; singer for the group Left of zed Margaret Cho, comedian, former star of the television sitcom All American Girl Smith Cho, actress SungWon Cho, actor, voice actor and YouTuber Kelly Choi, model, television presenter Kenneth Choi, actor Justin Chon, actor Daniel Chun, writer, co-producer (The Simpsons) Charlet Chung, actress and voice actress Jamie Chung, actress Philip W. Chung, playwright, founder and Artistic Director of Lodestone Theatre Ensemble Morena Corwin, model and Playboy playmate Piper Curda, actress and singer Saylor Curda, actress and singer Joy Dietrich, film director Michaela Dietz, voice actress (Steven Universe) Joanna Gaines, star of Fixer Upper Tati Gabrielle, actress Jon Gosselin, father of sextuplets; a subject of the reality show Jon & Kate Plus 8 Mark Fischbach (Markiplier), YouTuber and actor Bong Soo Han, "father of American Hapkido"; choreographed and performed in the fight scenes of Billy Jack Daniel Henney, model, actor in South Korea Gene Hong, producer, writer, and actor on Wild 'N Out Chanel Iman, model Ken Jeong, comedian, actor Grace Jung, comedian, writer and director Joseph Kahn, music video and movie director Angela Kang, television showrunner, producer, and writer Michael Kang, writer/director (The Motel, West 32nd) Sung Kang, actor (The Motel, Better Luck Tomorrow, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift) Tim Kang, actor (The Mentalist) Alan Kim, actor, youngest nominee for BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role Catherine Haena Kim, actress and model Daniel Dae Kim, actor Evan C. Kim, actor, best known for his role in the 1977 John Landis comedy The Kentucky Fried Movie Grace Kim, Playboy playmate Irene Kim, model and fashion designer Jacqueline Kim, actress Randall Duk Kim, actor Yunjin Kim, actress Esther Ku, comedian Yul Kwon, contestant on Survivor: Cook Islands Alexander Sebastien Lee, actor, filmmaker Alice Lee, actress Becky Lee, contestant on Survivor: Cook Islands Bobby Lee, comedian, actor, podcaster C.S. Lee, actor Chris Chan Lee, filmmaker Ki Hong Lee, actor (The Maze Runner) James Kyson Lee, actor Lee Ji-ah, actress Justin Lee, actor Lela Lee, actress and cartoonist Liz Lee, actress, My Life as Liz Patricia Ja Lee, actress, best known as Cassie Chan in Power Rangers Raymond Lee, actor (Quantum Leap (2022 TV series)) Rex Lee, actor (Entourage) Stephanie Lee, actress and model Sung-Hi Lee, model who appears mostly in soft-core nude photoshootsSung-Hi Lee – "Korean hottie Sung Hi Lee" Will Yun Lee, actor (Die Another Day) Ma Dong-seok, actor Charles Melton, actor (Riverdale, The Sun Is Also a Star) Mike Moh, actor, martial artist, stuntman (Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight) Leonardo Nam, actor Ricky Lee Neely, actor Soon Hee Newbold, filmmaker, actress, martial artist Dennis Oh, actor Sandra Oh, actress Soon-Tek Oh, actor Dennis Joseph O'Neil, model and actor Joy Osmanski, actress Hettienne Park, actress (Hannibal) Ho Sung Pak, actor, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Liu Kang and Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat Grace Park, actress, Battlestar Galactica Joon Park, actor Linda Park, Korean-born actress (Enterprise) Randall Park, actor (Fresh Off the Boat) Soo Joo Park, model Steve Park, actor (In Living Color) Sydney Park, actress (Spork, Instant Mom, The Walking Dead, Spirit Riding Free, Wish Upon, Lifeline, Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists) Soon-Yi Previn, actress; wife of Woody Allen; adoptive daughter of Mia Farrow Lindsay Price, television actress Phillip Rhee, actor (Best of the Best movies), Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido master Eddie Shin, actor Keong Sim, actor Sonja Sohn, actress Stephen Sohn, model James Sun, first runner-up, The Apprentice 6 James Sweeney, filmmaker and actor Brian Tee, actor (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift) Jenna Ushkowitz, actress and singer (Glee) Suzanne Whang, host of HGTV's House Hunters, Polly on NBC's Las Vegas, award-winning stand-up comedian Joe Wong, comedian Eugene Lee Yang, filmmaker, actor, and co-creator of the online comedy series The Try Guys Niki Yang, animator, writer, storyboard artist and voice actress Han Ye-seul, actress Steven Yeun, actor (The Walking Dead) Aaron Yoo, actor (Disturbia) Christine Yoo, scriptwriter and director of Wedding Palace Ji-young Yoo, actress (Expats) Elizabeth Yu, actress Johnny Yune, comedian and actor (They Call Me Bruce?) Karl Yune, model and actor (Memoirs of a Geisha, Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, brother of Rick Yune)