This is a list of notable Zainichi Koreans or notable Japanese people of Korean descent.
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(December 2012 )
Haku Shinkun , politician, House of Councillors (Real Name : Baek Jinhoon )
Han Duk-su , North Korean politician, founder and first chairman of Chongryon
Kim Ch'on-hae , leading official of the Japanese Communist Party (Originally from Ulsan, South Korea )
Kim Pyong-sik , North Korean politician , Vice President of North Korea and chairman of the Korean Social Democratic Party (Originally from South Jeolla Province, South Korea )
Ko Yong-hui , wife of North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il and mother of North Korea's current leader Kim Jong-un
Lee Kyung-jae , local activist
Lee Myung-bak , President of South Korea (born in Osaka , ancestral roots in Pohang , North Gyeongsang )
Park Choon-Geum , politician, House of Representatives (Originally from Miryang , Gyeongsangnam-do , South Korea )
So Man-sul , North Korean politician, Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea , chairman of Chongryon (Originally from Gyeongju , Gyeongsangbuk-do , South Korea )
Togo Shigenori , Minister of Foreign Affairs (in 1941), Minister of Greater East Asia (in 1945)
Aoki Sadao , President of MK Taxi and Resident Director of Kinkisangyo Shinkumi Bank - Originally from South Gyeongsang, South Korea (Real Name : Yoo Bong-seok )
Arai Taidō , founder of Jojoen restaurant chain (Real Name : Park Tae-do )
Kanayama Yoshio , founder of Murasaki Sports
Kawamura Shinko (Madame Shinco), founder of Cowcow Food System and television personality
Choung-Un Kim , vice president of Gilead Sciences and co-developer of tamiflu [1]
Yoshitaka Fukuda , President and CEO of Japanese consumer finance companies Aiful [2]
Han Chang-u , CEO of Maruhan (Japan's largest pachinko operator) - Originally from Sacheon , Gyeongsangnam-do , South Korea
Okamura Katsumasa , founder of Reve21
Masahiro Miki , founder and CEO of ABC-Mart , Japanese footwear company (Real Name : Kang Jeong-ho )
Masayoshi Son , CEO of Softbank and chairman of UK-based Arm Holdings (Real Name : Son Jeong-eui )
Taizo Son , President and Chairman of GungHo , mobile gaming company (Real Name : Taejang Son /Son Taejang /Son Tae-jang )
Akio Shigemitsu , CEO of Lotte (Real Name : Shin Dong-bin )
Hiroyuki Shigemitsu , Vice President of Lotte USA (Real Name : Shin Dong-joo )
Takeo Shigemitsu , founder of the Lotte group (Real Name : Shin Kyuk-ho )
Woo Jang-choon
Kang Sang-jung , political scientist, professor at the Seigakuin University and University of Tokyo
Kim Wooja , sociologist, professor at Ritsumeikan University
Woo Jang-choon , agricultural scientist and botanist
O Sonfa , professor at Takushoku University (Real Name : Oh Seon-hwa ) - Originally from Jeju-do , South Korea
Suh Sung , Japanese-born Korean professor, writer and former political prisoner
Kim Ik-kyŏn , sociologist, professor at Kobe Gakuin University
Kyŏng-ju Kim , linguist, professor at Tokai University
Kanayama Rika , historian, professor at International Christian University (Real Name : Kim Mal-cha )
Yanchun Kaku (Real Name : Kwak Yangchun ), economist, President of Rikkyo University (2018-2021)
An Katsumasa , psychiatrist, professor at Kobe University
Lee Young-suk , sociolinguist, professor at Hitotsubashi University - Originally from South Korea
Yi Sookyung , historical sociologist, professor at Tokyo Gakugei University - Originally from South Korea
Jeongyun Lee , educationist, professor at University of Tokyo - Originally from South Korea
Kim Moonkyong (Kin Bunkyō), specialist of Chinese literature, professor at Tsurumi University
Yang-gi Kim , cultural historian, professor at Tokoha University
Myungsoo Kim , sociologist, professor at Kwansei Gakuin University
Kim Sook-hyun , political scientist, professor at Tokoku University and secretary for Ichirō Ozawa
Kilnam Chon , computer scientist, professor at KAIST and Keio University
Boichi , manhwa /mangaka (Real Name : Mu-jik Park )
Kim Shijon , poet and activist
Lee Hoesung , Akutagawa Prize -winning novelist
Lee Yangji , Akutagawa Prize -winning novelist
Megumu Sagisawa , novelist
Tachihara Masaaki , novelist (Real Name : Kim Yun Kyu ) - Originally from Andong , Gyeongsangbuk-do , South Korea
Yang Sok-il , novelist
Yu Miri , Akutagawa Prize -winning novelist
Miyavi
Film and television
Hakuryu , actor and musician (Real Name : Jun Jung-il )
Houka Kinoshita , actor (Real Name : Rhee Bon-hwa )
Brian Tee , Japanese American actor, second-generation Zainichi Korean
Kaho Minami , actress
Yuna Ito , singer
Yuny Han , actress, singer, and pianist (Real Name : Han Tae-youn )
Juri Watanabe , model, Miss Universe Japan 2021
Koichi Iwaki , actor (Real Name : Lee Gwon-il )
Hirofumi Arai , actor, third-generation Zainichi North Korean (Real Name : Park Kyung-sik )
Hwang Jang-lee , martial artist and film actor
Tsuyoshi Ihara , actor (Real Name : Yun Yu-gu )
Kim Su-gil, film director and producer
Hyunri, actress (Real Name : Lee Hyun-ri )
Johnny Okura, actor and musician (Real Name : Park Unhwan /Park Unan )
Maruse Taro , mime artist, comedian, vaudevillian and movie star (Real Name : Kim Kyun-hong )
Kōhei Tsuka , playwright, theater director, and screenwriter (Real Name : Kim Pongung )
Mipo O , film director , screenwriter , and commercial director
Romi Park , voice actress and singer
Yang Yong-hi , film director
Sohee Park, actor
Sunghoo Park , anime director
Gong Teyu, actor (Real Name : Gong Dae-Yoo )
Hanae Kan , actress (Real Name : Han Young-hye )
Keiko Matsuzaka , actress (Real Name : Han Kyeong-ja )
Kiko Mizuhara , actress and model (Real name : Audrie Kiko Daniel )
Music
Chon Wolson , soprano opera singer (Real Name : Jeon Wol-seon )
Kim Sung-Je, member of Supernova
Tomoyasu Hotei , also known as Hotei, Korean father and Russian-born Japanese mother
Mink , J-pop singer (Real Name : Lee Mink )
Miyavi , musician
Jyongri , singer (Real Name : Cho Jyong-ri )
Crystal Kay , singer
Hong-Jae Kim , conductor
Kim Seikyo, conductor
Ayumi Lee , as also known as Iconiq, singer, Korean father and second-generation Zainichi Korean mother
Harumi Miyako , enka singer (Real Name : Rhee Chun-mi )
Apeace , South Korean K-pop boygroup based in Japan
Park Pushim , reggae artist
Kunihiko Ryo , composer (Real Name : Yang Bang-ean )
Shion , singer (Real Name : Yu-hyang Park )
Sonim , singer, third-generation Zainichi Korean (Real Name : Seong Son-im )
Towa Tei , DJ (Real Name : Dong-hwa Chung )
Verbal , rapper of M-Flo (Real Name : Ryu Yeong-gi )
Akiko Wada , singer (Real Name : Kim Bok-ja )
Kohh , rapper
Yuna Ito , singer, Japanese father and Korean-American mother
Rihwa , pop singer (Real Name : Park Ri-hwa )
RiSe , singer, model and K-pop idol , former member of K-pop girlgroup Ladies' Code (Real Name : Kwon Ri-se )
Kangnam , singer, television personality and K-pop idol , former member of K-pop boygroup M.I.B.
Chanmina , rapper and pop musician
Yoshi (Kanemoto Yoshinori), producer, rapper and K-pop idol , member of K-pop boy group Treasure (Real Name : Kim Bang-jeon )
Giselle (Uchinaga Eri), singer, rapper, dancer and K-pop idol , member of K-pop girlgroup æspa (Real Name : Kim Ae-ri )
Saori , singer, model and entertainer (Real Name : Jang Eun-ju )
Obata Minoru , singer (Real Name : Kang Young-cheol )
Baseball
Kanemoto Tomoaki , professional baseball player, member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
Kaneda Masaichi , professional baseball player, member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame (Real Name : Kim Kyung-Hong )
Harimoto Isao , professional baseball player, member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame (Real Name : Jang Hun )
Hideo Fujimoto , professional baseball player, member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
Arai Takahiro , professional baseball player
Arai Ryota , professional baseball player
Morimoto Hichori , professional baseball player (Real Name : Heechul Lee )
Hisao Niura , professional baseball player (Real Name : Kim Il-young )
Hiyama Shinjiro , professional baseball player (Real Name : Hwang Jin-hwan )
Kinjoh Tatsuhiko , professional baseball player (Real Name : Kim Yong-eon )
Song Il-soo , former manager of the Doosan Bears
Martial arts
Ōyama Masutatsu , martial arts expert and founder of IKO Kyokushinkaikan , also known as Choi Bae-dal (Real Name : Choi Yeong-eui ) - Originally from Gimje , Jeollabuk-do , South Korea
Matsui Akiyoshi , President of Kyokushin-kaikan (Real Name : Moon Jang-gyu )
Royama Hatsuo , President of Kyokushin-kan (Real Name : Noh Cho Woong )
Akiyama Yoshihiro , judoka and mixed martial artist (Real Name : Sung-hoon Choo )
Kotetsu Boku , kickboxer and mixed martial artist (Real Name : Park Kwang-cheol )
Hiromitsu Kanehara , mixed martial artist and professional wrestler (Real Name : Kim Wang-hong )
Hwang Jang-lee , martial artist and film actor
Kim Eui-tae , South Korean judoka and bronze medalist at 1964 Tokyo Olympics
Oh Seung-lip , South Korean judoka and silver medalist at 1972 Munich Olympics
Park Young-chul , South Korean judoka and bronze medalist at 1976 Montreal Olympics
An Chang-rim , South Korean judoka and bronze medalist at 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Kin Taiei , mixed martial artist (Real Name : Taeyoung Kim )
Hideo Nakamura , karateka and first president of the Karatedo Kendokai (Real Name : Kang Chang-Soo ) - Originally from Pyongyang, North Korea
Professional wrestling
Mitsuhiro Momota , pro-wrestler, also known as Rikidozan (Real Name : Kim Sin-rak ) - Originally from Hongwon County , South Hamgyong Province , North Korea
Kensho Obayashi , pro-wrestler, also known as Zeus (Real Name : Kim Bon-u ), former AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion and a former four-time World Tag Team Champion
Kanemoto Koji , pro-wrestler (Real Name : Kim Il-Sung )
Kintarō Ōki , pro-wrestler, also known as Kim Il (Real Name : Kim Tae-sik )
Kanemura Kouhiro , pro-wrestler (Real Name : Kim Hyeong-ho )
Kantaro Hoshino , pro-wrestler, manager, and promoter (Real Name : Yeo Geon-bu )
Maeda Akira , pro-wrestler (Real Name : Go Il-myeong )
Momota Mitsuo , pro-wrestler
Ryouji Sai , pro-wrestler (Real Name : Choi Young-ii )
Tatsuhito Takaiwa , pro-wrestler (Real Name : Go Yong-Il )
Yoshida Mitsuo , pro-wrestler, also known as Riki Choshu (Real Name : Kwak Gwang-ung )
Jake Lee , pro-wrestler (Real Name : Lee Che-Gyong )
Hiromitsu Kanehara , mixed martial artist and professional wrestler (Real Name : Kim Wang-hong )
Soccer
Lee Tadanari , professional football player for the Japan national team (Real Name : Lee Chung-Sung )
Takahiro Kunimoto , professional football player
Okayama Kazunari , professional football player (Real Name : Kang Il-Sung )
Masahiro Okamoto , professional football player
Ahn Young-Hak , North Korean football player
Han Ho-gang , South Korean football player
Jong Tae-Se , North Korean football player
Kim Jong-Song , North Korean football player
Kim Seong-Yong , North Korean football player
Ri Han-Jae , North Korean football player
Ryang Gyu-Sa, North Korean football player
Ryang Yong-Gi , North Korean football player
Son Min-chol , North Korean football player
Kim Jung-ya , South Korean football player
Kim Yong-Gwi , South Korean football player
Other
Takako Shirai , volleyball player, Olympic gold medalist at 1976 Summer Olympics , silver medalist at 1972 Summer Olympics , and member of the Volleyball Hall of Fame (Real Name : Jeongsoon Yoon )
Hayakawa Ren , archer and bronze medalist at 2012 Summer Olympics (Real Name : Um Hye-ryeon )
Hayakawa Nami , archer at 2008 Summer Olympics (Real Name : Uhm Hye-rang /Uhm Hyerang )
Lee Ryol-li , North Korean boxer, former WBA super bantamweight champion
Kim Chae-Hwa , South Korean figure skater
Kunimoto Keisuke , race car driver, winner of 2008 Macau Grand Prix (Real Name : Lee Gyeong-Woo )
Yuji Kunimoto , race car driver
Tokuyama Masamori , professional boxer, former WBC super flyweight champion (Real Name : Chang-Soo Hong )
Koo Ji-won , rugby union player
Teiru Kinoshita , professional boxer (Real Name : Park Tae-Il )
Katsunari Takahashi , professional golfer (Real Name : Go Seung-Seong )
Haru Nomura , female professional golfer (Real Name : Minkyung Moon )
Takazumi Katayama , motorcycle racer, former Grand Prix motorcycle road racing world champion
Lee Seung-Sin , rugby union player
Machii Hisayuki , godfather and founder of the Toa-kai yakuza syndicate[5] (Real Name : Jeong Geon-Yeong )
Makino Kuniyasu , Yakuza leader of the Matsuba-kai [6] (Real Name : Lee Chun-seong )
Takayama Tokutaro , godfather of the Aizukotetsu-kai yakuza syndicate [7] (Real Name: Gang Oe-su )
Kiyota Jiro , godfather of the Inagawa-kai [8] (Real Name : Shin Byung-kyu )
Hashimoto Hirofumi , godfather of the Kyokushin-Rengo-Kai [9] (Real Name : Kang Hong-mun )
Yanagawa Jiro , godfather of the Yanagawa-Gumi (Real Name : Yang Won Suk ) - Originally from Busan, South Korea
Jo Hiroyuki , uyoku assassin [7] (Real Name : Seo Yuheng )
Mun Segwang , failed assassin of Park Chung-hee
Joji Obara , serial rapist and murderer[10] (Real Name : Kim Sung Jong )
Kwon Hyi-ro , murderer who brought public attention to discrimination against the Zainichi
Sin Gwang-su , North Korean spy, involved in North Korean abductions of Japanese (Originally from North Korea )
Hayashi Yasuo , of the member in the Aum Shinrikyo . He was to carry out the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
Yi Geon , Korean prince, the first son of Prince Yi Kang of Korea, grandson of Emperor Gwangmu and a cavalry officer in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II
Yi Un , the last crown prince of Joseon Korea .
Prince Junda , the second son of King Muryeong of Baekje and the founding ancestor of the Yamato no Fuhito clan
Shigakishi , the third son of King Muryeong of Baekje
Buyeo Gonji , member of the royal family of Baekje , one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea , son of the 21st king, Gaero of Baekje and younger brother of the 22nd king, Munju of Baekje
Dongseong of Baekje , the 24th king of Baekje , one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea and the 1st son of Buyeo Gonji
Muryeong of Baekje , the 25th king of Baekje , one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea and the 2nd son of Buyeo Gonji
Mokuto-Ō , prince of Baekje , one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea , the grandson of Seong of Baekje and ancestor of both Gwisil clan and Oka no muraji clan
Prince Asa , the eldest son of King Wideok of Baekje and older brother of Prince Imseong
Prince Imseong , the third son of King Wideok of Baekje , younger brother of Prince Asa and ancestor of the Ōuchi clan (Originally from Baekje )
Gwisil Boksin , military general of Baekje , one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea and member of the Gwisil clan (Originally from Baekje )
Gwisil Jipsa , the son of Gwisil Boksin
Wakita Naokata , samurai from Joseon who served the Maeda clan in the early Edo period and Commissioner of Kanazawa city (Real Name : Kim Yeo-cheol ) - Originally from Hanseong , Joseon (Currently Seoul, South Korea )
Hoshiyama Chūji, founder of Satsuma ware (Real Name : Kim Hae ) - Originally from Joseon
Soga Seikan, samurai from Joseon who served Nakagawa Hidenari , the first daimyō of Oka, as a retainer (Originally from Joseon )
Akizuki Tanenobu, renowned Korean style tofu merchant (Real Name : Park Won-hyuk ) - Originally from Joseon
Rinoie Motohiro , samurai from Joseon who served the Mōri clan and retainer of Chōshū Domain in the early Edo period and son of Korean commander and politician Yi Bok-nam (Real Name : Yi Gyeong-bu ) - Originally from Hanseong , Joseon (Currently Seoul, South Korea )
The Person Who Crosses The Border - Yusaku Matsuda (越境者 - 松田優作 , Ekkyousha - Matsuda Yusaku ) by Michiko Matsuda, published 2008