Miss Korea () is a national beauty pageant in South Korea. The reigning Miss Korea is Woo Seo-yoon who was crowned on August 22, 2026.
History The first Miss Korea competition took place in 1953 and was organised by the Korean newspaper Chungang Ilbo. From 1957 onward, it was sponsored by the Hankook Ilbo (Korea Daily). Each year, approximately fifty women compete in Seoul, South Korea, and eight are selected by a panel of judges. The winner "Jin" (진) is crowned as the official Miss Korea. Additionally, there are "Seon" (선) finalists (equivalent to 1st runners-up), and "Mi" (미) finalists (equivalent to 2nd runners-up). Lastly, the sponsor title (equivalent to 3rd-7th runners-up) are chosen. Since 2025, new titles have been added 'Ye' (예) (equivalent to 3rd runners-up) and 'Jae' (재) (equivalent to 4th runners-up).
On March 16, 2011, the president of the Miss World Organization, Julia Morley, announced the newly launched Miss World Korea pageant. Until 2010, Miss Korea would also select the representative to Miss World, but starting with Miss World 2011, a separate competition has been held to choose the contestant who will represent Korea.
Since 2015, it has been co-hosted by Hankook Ilbo and Hanju E&M, since 2018 it has been co-hosted by Hankook Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo E&B, a subsidiary of Hankook Ilbo, and since 2021, it has been hosted by Global E&B (formerly Hankook Ilbo E&B). Since 2016, Miss Korea organization no longer send South Korea's representative to Miss Universe.
In 2022, Mina Sue Choi represented Korea at the 22nd Miss Earth pageant, which was held in Parañaque, Philippines on November 29, 2022, and eventually won the crown, making Korea's first ever victory on any of the big four international beauty pageants.
Until 2024, Miss Korea would also select the representative to Miss International, but starting with Miss International 2025, Korean representatives at the Miss International are chosen in a separate pageant Korea Beauty Pageant Organization (KBO). Until 2024, Miss Korea would also select the representative to Miss Earth, but starting with Miss Earth 2025, Korean representative for Miss Earth will be selected through the Miss Earth Korea pageant. Miss Korea is no longer participating as a representative of Korea.
International Crowns Number of wins under Miss Korea Pageant Title Miss Earth 1 2022 Miss Asia Pacific International 3 1969 • 1995 • 2002 Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International 1 2010Miss Asia Contest11963
The following are the Miss Korea titleholders throughout the years.
One — Miss Earth winner: Mina Sue Choi (2022) Three — Miss Asia Pacific International winner: Seo Won-Kyoung (1969) • Yoon Mi-jung (1995) • Kim So-yoon (2002) One — Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International winner: Ha Hyun-jung (2010) One — Miss Asia Contest winner: Choi In-ja (1963)
Placements at international pageants
This is Miss Korea's placement in the international pageants. Past licenses 8 placements at Miss Universe. The highest placement is Jang Yoon-jeong as 1st Runner-up of Miss Universe 1988. 8 placements at Miss World. The highest placement is Choi Yeon-hee as 1st Runner-up of Miss World 1988. 26 placements at Miss International. The highest placement is Son Tae-young, Seo Eun-mi as 1st Runner-up of Miss International 2000, Miss International 2009. 9 placements at Miss Earth. The highest placement is Mina Sue Choi as Miss Earth 2022. 1 placements at Miss Supranational. The highest placement is You Soo-jung as Top 20 of Miss Supranational 2010. 1 placements at Miss Intercontinental. The highest placement is Cha Ye-rin as Top 15 of Miss Intercontinental 2009. 14 placements at Miss Asia Pacific International. The highest placement is Seo Won-Kyoung, Yoon Mi-jung, Kim So-yoon as Miss Asia Pacific International 1969, 1995, 2002. 3 placements at Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International. The highest placement is Ha Hyun-jung as Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International 2010.
Titles Number of wins from Miss Korea (past licenses) Pageant Wins Female international beauty pageants: Miss Universe 0 Miss World 0 Miss International 0 Miss Earth 1 Miss Supranational 0 Miss Intercontinental 0 Miss Asia Pacific International 3 Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International 1 Miss Asia Contest 1 Miss Young International 0 Queen of the Pacific 0 Miss Wonderland 0 Miss International Pacific Pearl 0 Miss Flower Queen 0 Miss All Nations 0 Miss International Blueberry 0 Miss International Beauty 0 Male international beauty pageants:Manhunt International 0Mister World 0
Note that the year designates the time Miss Korea has acquired that particular pageant franchise.
Past Miss Universe (1957–2015) Miss World (1959–2010) Miss International (1960–2024) Miss Earth (2002–2024) Miss Supranational (2010) Miss Intercontinental (1977–1978, 2009–2010) Miss Asia Pacific International (1968–2005) Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International (2010–2012) Miss Asia Contest (1963) Miss Young International (1970–1983) Queen of the Pacific (1970–1977) Miss Wonderland (1987–1989) Miss International Pacific Pearl (1987) Miss Flower Queen (1990) Miss All Nations (1990) Miss International Blueberry (2012) Miss International Beauty (2009) Mister World (2010) Manhunt International (2010)
Titleholders