List of Korean Americans

The following is a list of Korean Americans who are famous, have made significant contributions to the American culture or society politically, artistically or scientifically, or have appeared in the news numerous times.

Art and design

Frank Cho, comic book artist (Spider-Man, The New Avengers), writer, and co-creator (Liberty Meadows)
Peter Chung, animator, creator of cult animated TV series Æon Flux
Doug Juhn, art director, visual effects concept art, montage design (Elektra, Daredevil, Superman Returns, Friday Night Lights)
Peter Shin, a director of Family guy
Jin Kim, senior creative designer at Toyota's CALTY design studio in California; lead designer of the Toyota FJ Cruiser
Scott Kim, puzzlemaster, artist, computer game designer
Nic Cha Kim, creator of Gallery Row in Downtown Los Angeles
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
Lela Lee (1974 - ) actress and cartoonist, creator of the comic strip and animated cartoons Kim, the Angry Little Asian Girl and Angry Little Girls^[1]
Nam June Paik, Korean-born artist; father of Video Art
Andy Park, comic book artist (Tomb Raider, X-Men)
Tommy Yune, comic book writer/artist (Speed Racer, Robotech) and animation director (Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles)

Business & Economics

Jason Chon, CEO of Locus Telecommunications, Leader of the Board, former International Sales Manager for Samsung Electronics.
Wendy Lee Gramm, economics professor, former chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and wife of former Senator Phil Gramm
David J. Kim, CEO and founder of C2 Educational Center, and son of martial arts grandmaster and star of the cult classic movie "Master Kid" Bobby J. Kim.
Dow Kim, Executive Vice President and President of Investment Banking and Global Markets (Merrill Lynch)
Lucas Roh, CEO and Founder of Hostway Corporation
Chong-Moon Lee, Chairman of AmBex Venture Group, Chairman of Board for Nara Bancorp, Inc., and Founder of Diamond Multimedia
Sung Won Sohn, CEO and President of Hanmi Financial Corporation, former Chief Economist of Wells Fargo & Co.
Brian Chung, CEO and President of Frontier Logistics Services
Jemo Kang, Founder and President of Princeton BioMeditech Corporation
Shari Song, Founder of KAPS - Korean American Professionals Society

Entertainment

Philip Ahn, actor
Brooke Ashley, adult film actress
Nicole Bilderback, actress
Johnny Yong Bosch, actor best known as Adam Park in Power Rangers.
Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, author, video/filmmaker
Steve Byrne, comedian, actor
Erwin Cho, The Amazing Race 10 contestant
Godwin Cho, The Amazing Race 10 contestant
Henry Cho, comedian-actor
John Cho, actor who appeared in the American Pie franchise and as star of Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. He is also a singer for the group called Left of zed
Margaret Cho, comedian and former star of the television sitcom All-American Girl
Janet Choi, cast member of MTV's the Real World, Seattle season.
Alexandra Bokyun Chun, actress, filmmaker
Daniel Chun, writer, co-producer (The Simpsons)
Philip W. Chung, playwright, founder and Artistic Director of Lodestone Theatre Ensemble
Gene Hong, producer, writer, and actor on Wild 'N Out
Joseph Kahn, music video and movie director
Michael Kang, writer/director (The Motel (film), West 32nd)
Sung Kang, actor (The Motel (film), Better Luck Tomorrow, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift)
Daniel Dae Kim, actor
Johnny Kim, a film actor, producer and director
Michael Kim, sportscaster on ESPN television
Yunjin Kim, actress
Paul Kim, Top 24 contestant, American Idol (Season 6)
Stacy Kimball, Survivor: Fiji contestant
Yul Kwon, contestant on Survivor: Cook Islands
Becky Lee, contestant on Survivor: Cook Islands
Bobby Lee (1972 - ) comedy actor for MADtv^[2]
Hyun (Mookie) Lee, Survivor: Fiji contestant
James Kyson Lee, actor
Lela Lee (1974 - ) actress and cartoonist^[1]
Lucy Lee, adult film actress
Sung-Hi Lee (1970 - ) model who appears mostly in soft-core nude photoshoots^[3]*
Patricia Ja Lee, actress, best known as Cassie Chan in Power Rangers.
Meg Frampton, musician, older sister of Dia Frampton
Dia Frampton, musician, younger sister of Meg Frampton
Will Yun Lee, actor (Die Another Day)
Masuimi Max, fetish model, contestant on Fear Factor
Leonardo Nam, actor (The Perfect Score, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift)
Dennis Joseph O'neil, model and actor
Nina Oh, singer/dancer (Superstar USA)
Ho Sung Pak, actor, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Linda Park, Korean-born actor (Enterprise)
Steve Park, actor (In Living Color)
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
Mia Park, adult film actress
Mia Smiles, adult film actress
Minka, adult film actress
James Sun, first runner-up, The Apprentice 6
Brian Tee, actor (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift)
Cher Tenbush, model, actress Beauty and the Geek
Samuel Yang, model, actor, comedian, musician, songwriter, dancer, cartoonist
Natasha Yi, model
Aaron Yoo, actor (Disturbia)
Jordan Young, adult film actor
Johnny Yune, comedian/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)
Rick Yune, model and actor (Die Another Day, The Fast and the Furious)
Sandra Oh, Film and Television Actress
Jae Han, "MrKoreanguy"
Grace Park, Actress Battlestar Galactica

Journalism

Juju Chang, ABC News anchor and reporter
Liz Cho, ABC News anchor and reporter
Sophia Choi, CNN Headline News anchor
James Kim, Former senior editor at CNET.
Lee Ann Kim, anchor and reporter for KGTV and executive director of the San Diego Asian Film Festival
Michael Kim, ESPN anchor
Corina Knoll, Senior Editor of KoreAm Journal
K.W. Lee, founding president of the Korean American Journalists Association
Janice Min, Editor-in-chief of US Weekly magazine
Alice Rhee, NBC News producer
Suchin Pak, MTV News anchor and reporter

Literature

Leonard Chang, American-born writer
Heinz Insu Fenkl, author
Nora Okja Keller, author
Richard E. Kim, author
Chang-Rae Lee, author
Don Lee, author, editor of Ploughshares literary journal
Linda Sue Park, American-born author; winner of the 2002 Newbery Medal for A Single Shard
Therese Park, author

Medicine and Public Health

Howard Choi, a spinal cord injury specialist
Jim Yong Kim, Francois Xavier Bagnoud Professor Health and Human Rights at Harvard University and former Director of HIV/AIDS at the World Health Organization
Howard Koh, Harvey V. Fineberg Professor of the Practice of Public Health and Associate Dean for Public Health Practice at the Harvard School of Public Health and former Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Health.

Music

Ahn Trio - Juilliard-educated classical music trio, featured in print and television ads for Gap^[4]
Amerie (1980 - ) R&B singer-songwriter/actress^[5]
Sarah Chang - violinist^[6]
Joe Hahn - founding member of alternative rock band Linkin Park, multi-platinum and Grammy Award-winner^[7]
Crystal Kay - J-pop (Zainichi Korean) singer^[8]
Soovin Kim - Violinist from New York City.
John Myung - Bass guitar player of progressive metal band Dream Theater^[9]
Karen O - lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs ^[10]
Lena Park - R&B singer^[11]
Mike Park - ska and punk musician, founder of Asian Man Records^[12]
Craig Pfunder - Lead vocalist and guitarist of VHS or Beta
Susie Suh - singer-songwriter, signed with Epic Records^[13]
Taebin of 1TYM - R&B singer based in South Korea.
Teddy Park of 1TYM - Singer based in South Korea.
Brian Joo of Fly to the Sky - R&B singer based in South Korea.
Daniel Henney - Model, Actor, Singer in South Korea
Tim - R&B singer based in South Korea.
Steve Seung-Jun Yoo - Singer kicked out of South Korea
Priscilla Ahn - Alternative/Folk Singer
Todd Park Mohr - lead vocals/guitars/keyboards/saxophone of Big Head Todd and the Monsters
Park Joon Hyung of g.o.d - Rapper based in South Korea
Danny Ahn of g.o.d - Rapper based in South Korea
Lee Hyun Woo - R&B singer based in South Korea
T - R&B singer based in South Korea
Jessica Jung of Girls' Generation - Singer based in South Korea
Stephanie Hwang of Girls' Generation - Singer based in South Korea

Politics and government

Michelle Park Steel, California State Board of Equalization, elected to represent 8.5 million California taxpayers.
John J. Choi, Saint Paul City Attorney, appointed by Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman (D) in January 2006.
Jun Choi, Mayor of Edison, New Jersey
Dr. Steven Choi, Irvine, California City Councilmember and candidate for California State Assembly
Judge Herbert Choy, appointed to the U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and first Asian American appointed to the federal bench.
Shinae Chun, Director of the Women’s Bureau, Department of Labor (George W. Bush administration)
Hoon-Yung Hopgood, member of Michigan State House of Representatives, first Korean-American elected to public office in Michigan
Sukhee Kang, City Councilman of Irvine, California
Harry Kim, Mayor of Hawaii County
Jason Kim, Councilman (D) of Palisades Park, New Jersey, the first Korean-American elected on the East Coast of the United States (2004).
Jay Kim, former Republican Congressman from California
Harold Hongju Koh, Dean of Yale Law School and former Assistant Secretary of State during the Clinton administration (See below.)
Jerry Kong, Trustee on the Buena Park School District Board of Education in Buena Park, California
Sunny K. Park, Georgia, Secretary & Treasure; Georgia Ports Authority, former member of The White House Commission on Asian Americans. SunnyPark.com
Paull Shin, Washington state senator; Korean adoptee
John Yoo, conservative Berkeley law professor and former Deputy Attorney General in the United States Department of Justice
Sam Yoon, Boston City Council member (2005-present), first Asian American to be elected to the position
Art Yoon, Mayor of Hermosa Beach, California, April 13, 2004 - January 25, 2005
Wendy Van Horne, 2006 Green-Rainbow Party candidate for Massachusetts Lt. Governor.

Religion

Hae Jong Kim, Bishop of the United Methodist Church

Science and technology

Jung-Hoon Chun, MIT Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Suk Ju Hong, chemical engineer, BS, MS & Ph.D from Seoul National University, retired from Kodak, who invented and pioneered laser digital printing plate process. He is the grandson of Hong Jin.
Albert L. Kang, President of University of California, Irvine
Sung-Mo "Steve" Kang, Chancellor of University of California, Merced
Jeong H. Kim, President of Bell Labs
Benjamin Lee, theoretical physicist
Hae-Seung (Harry) Lee, MIT Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Mark L. Polansky, NASA astronaut.

Sports

Cha Seung Baek, MLB player
Toby Dawson, Olympic skier. He won the bronze medal in men's freestyle skiing at the 2006 Torino Games.
Marcus Demps, American football player
Will Demps, American football player
Anthony Kim, professional golfer
Christina Kim, professional golfer
Kevin Kim, tennis player
Jeanette Lee pool player, nicknamed "The Black Widow" for her tendency to wear black^[14]
John Lee, football player
Sammy Lee, swimmer, first American-born Asian Olympic gold medalist
Naomi Nari Nam, figure skater
Richard Park, a Korean-American NHL player
Jhoon Rhee, Tae Kwon Do master and entrepreneur
Dawn Riehl, Bodybuilder and powerlifter.
Terrmel Sledge, MLB player
Hines Ward, football player, MVP of Super Bowl XL
Michelle Wie, professional golfer
Alex Yi, soccer player
John Yim, Professional Drifter, Formula D series
James Yun, Professional wrestler

Other

Gregory Lee, the first Korean American Firefighter/Paramedic in the United States. Lee, retired in 2002 from the Los Angeles County Fire Department after 30 years. Born in Hawaii in 1946, he lives in Southern California with his wife.
Jaegwon Kim, William Herbert Perry Faunce Professor of Philosophy at Brown University
Philip Jaisohn, first Korean to become an American citizen; first Korean American to receive an American medical degree
Alice Kim, wife of American actor Nicolas Cage
Young-Oak Kim, first Asian American colonel to command a U.S. battalion
Sonya Thomas, top-ranked competitive eater
Sho Yano, child prodigy

References

Footnotes

^ ^a ^b Lela Lee - [1] "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."
^ Bobby Lee - [2] "Korean King of Comedy: Bobby Lee"
^ Sung-Hi Lee - [3] "Korean hottie Sung Hi Lee"
^ [4] "The Korean classical piano trio “Ahn Trio,”"
^ [5] "Half Korean, half African-American, Amerie has lived all over the world..."
^ [6] "Meanwhile, under the subtitle “Becoming a World-Famous Violinist,” the unit also pays tribute to Korean-American violinist Sarah Chang..."
^ [7] "Hahn, a Korean American..."
^ [8] "Korean-American sensation Crystal Kay, are among Japan's best and most established..."
^ [9]
^
- Ken Oak - vocalist of Ken Oak Band
- James Iha - Guitar guitar player of American Alternative Rock band Smashing Pumpkins<ref>[
[http://www.geocities.com/yeahyeahyeahs_bang/koreamarticle.html] "And for aspiring Korean American artists..."</li> <li id="wp-_note-9">'''[[#wp-_ref-9|^]]''' [http://www.solid07.net/albumreviews/lenapark5.shtml] "Yet with Lena Park, and a selected number of Korean artists..."</li> <li id="wp-_note-10">'''[[#wp-_ref-10|^]]''' [http://www.kaffeinebuzz.com/musicreviews-mikepark-northhangookfalling.php]</li> <li id="wp-_note-11">'''[[#wp-_ref-11|^]]''' [http://news.sfobserver.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=6dbc13fd29d1ea37c41f1fb84354ccbe] "For Emerging Korean-American Singer Susie Suh, Songs are Like Tattoos"</li> <li id="wp-_note-12">'''[[#wp-_ref-12|^]]''' '''Jeanette Lee''' - [http://www.onthesnap.com/players/jeanette_lee.htm] "As a first generation Korean American, Jeanette was raised in a bilingual household which stressed both Korean traditional values and the American ideal of
opportunity."</li></ol></ref>

External links

KAPS - Korean American Professionals Society.
Arirang - Interactive history of Korean Americans.
KoreAm Journal - News, stories, and issues of Korean Americans nationwide.

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