Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Miss Korea
National beauty pageant in Korea From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Miss Korea (Korean: 미스코리아) is a national beauty pageant in South Korea. The reigning Miss Korea is Jung Yeon-woo who was crowned on August 5, 2025.[1]
Remove ads
History
Summarize
Perspective
The first Miss Korea competition took place in 1957 and was sponsored by the Korean newspaper Hankook Ilbo. 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).[2]
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.[3]
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.[4]
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).[5] 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.[6] Miss Korea is no longer participating as a representative of Korea.[7]
Remove ads
International Crowns
The following are the Miss Korea titleholders throughout the years.
- One — Miss Earth winner:
- 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)
Remove ads
Placements at 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]
- 8 placements at Miss World. The highest placement is Choi Yeon-hee as 1st Runner-up of Miss World 1988.[9]
- 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.[10]
- 9 placements at Miss Earth. The highest placement is Mina Sue Choi as Miss Earth 2022.[11]
- 1 placements at Miss Supranational. The highest placement is You Soo-jung as Top 20 of Miss Supranational 2010.[12]
- 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
Summarize
Perspective
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)
Remove ads
Titleholders
- Miss Korea 1999 Fila Lee Hye-won
- Miss Universe Korea 2001 Kim Sa-rang
- Miss Korea 2001 Muke Jung Ah-reum
- Miss Korea 2009 Seon Cha Ye-rin
- Miss Korea 2009 Mi Lee Seul-ki
- Miss Korea 2009 Mi Choi Ji-hee
- Miss Korea 2010 Seon Jang Yoon-jin
- Miss Korea 2010 Mi Ha Hyun-jung
- Miss Korea 2010 Mi Ahn Da-hye
- Miss Korea 2011 Mi Lee Semina
- Miss Korea 2011 Mi Nam Mi-yeon
- Miss Korea 2011 Mi Kim Soo-jung
- Miss Korea 2011 Mi Gong Pyung-hee
- Miss Korea 2012 Mi Kim Young-joo
- Miss Korea 2012 Mi Kim Na-yeon
- Miss Korea 2012 Mi Kim Tae-hyun
- Miss Korea 2012 Mi Kim Yoo-jin
- Miss Korea 2013 Seon Kim Hyo-hee
- Miss Korea 2013 Mi Koo Bon-hwa
- Miss Korea 2013 Mi Choi Hye-rin
- Miss Korea 2013 Mi Han Soo-min
- Miss Korea 2013 Mi Kim Min-joo
- Miss Korea 2014 Mi Ryu So-ra
- Miss Korea 2014 Mi Kim Myeong-seon
- Miss Korea 2014 Mi Lee Sarah
- Miss Korea 2014 Mi Baek Ji-hyun
- Miss Korea 2019 Kim Sae-yeon
Remove ads
Former titles
Summarize
Perspective
- Color key
- Declared as Winner
- Ended as runner-up
- Ended as top 5/8 qualification
- Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
- Ended as special awards
Miss Universe Korea 1954—2015
Korea debuted at Miss Universe in 1954, three years before the first Miss Korea pageant. Since 2016, Korean representatives at Miss Universe have been chosen in a separate pageant, Miss Universe Korea, and the Miss Korea Organization no longer sends South Korea's representative to Miss Universe.
- Miss Universe Korea 1990 Oh Hyun-kyung
- Miss Universe Korea 1998 Kim Ji-yeon
- Miss Universe Korea 1999 Choi Ji-hyun
- Miss Universe Korea 2000 Kim Yeon-joo
- Miss Universe Korea 2001 Kim Sa-rang
- Miss Universe Korea 2006 Kim Joo-hee
- Miss Universe Korea 2007 Lee Ha-nui
- Miss Universe Korea 2008 Lee Ji-seon
- Miss Universe Korea 2010 Kim Joo-ri
- Miss Universe Korea 2011 Chong So-ra
- Miss Universe Korea 2012 Lee Sung-hye
- Miss Universe Korea 2013 Kim Yu-mi
- Miss Universe Korea 2014 Yoo Ye-bin
- Miss Universe Korea 2015 Kim Seo-yeon
Miss World Korea 1959—2010
Korea debuted at Miss World in 1959. The 1st Runner-up of Miss Korea represented the nation at Miss World. Since 2011, Korean representatives at the Miss World are chosen in a separate pageant Miss World Korea, that separate contest is to only focus on Miss World.
- Miss World Korea 1990 Go Hyun-jung
- Miss World Korea 1993 Lee Seung-yeon
- Miss World Korea 2001 Seo Hyun-jin
- Miss World Korea 2007 Cho Eun-ju
- Miss World Korea 2008 Choi Bo-in
- Miss World Korea 2009 Kim Joo-ri
- Miss World Korea 2010 Kim Hye-young
Miss International Korea 1960—2024
Korea debuted at Miss International in 1960.[26] The 1st Runner-up of Miss Korea represented the nation at Miss International. Since 2025, Korean representatives at the Miss International are chosen in a separate pageant Korea Beauty Pageant Organization (KBO).
- Miss International Korea 2000 Son Tae-young
- Miss International Korea 2009 Seo Eun-mi
- Miss International Korea 2011 Kim Hye-sun
- Miss International Korea 2013 Han Ji-eun
- Miss International Korea 2014 Lee Seo-bin
Miss Earth Korea 2002—2024
Korea debuted at Miss Earth in 2002.[33] The 1st Runner-up of Miss Korea represented the nation at Miss Earth. Since 2025, Korean representative for Miss Earth will be selected through the Miss Earth Korea pageant.
- Miss Earth Korea 2005 Yoo Hye-mi
- Miss Earth Korea 2008 Seo Seol-hee during the Miss Earth 2008 pageant
- Miss Earth Korea 2009 Park Ye-ju during the Press presentation in the Miss Earth 2009 pageant
- Miss Earth Korea 2010 Lee Gui-joo
- Miss Earth Korea 2012 Kim Sa-ra
- Miss Earth Korea 2013 Choi Song-yi
- Miss Earth Korea 2014 Shin Su-min
- Miss Earth Korea 2022 Choi Mi-na-su when she got the gold medal for Preliminary Long Gown Competition in the Miss Earth 2022 pageant.
Miss Supranational Korea
Miss Intercontinental Korea
Miss Asia Pacific International Korea
Miss Asia Korea
Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International Korea
Miss Young International Korea
Queen of the Pacific Korea
Miss Wonderland Korea
Miss International Pacific Pearl Korea
Miss Flower Queen Korea
Miss All Nations Korea
Miss International Blueberry Korea
Miss International Beauty Korea
Remove ads
Titleholders
Mister World Korea
In 2009, Hankook Ilbo sent first Mister World contestant who is represent Korea.
Manhunt International Korea
Remove ads
Notes
Miss Korea Sisters
- Sohn Mi-hee-ja (Winner of 1960) (Miss Universe 1960 - Top 15)
Sohn Yang-ja (1st Runner-up of 1962) (Miss International 1962) - Shin Byoung-sook (2nd Runner-up of 1976) (Miss World 1976)
Shin Byoung-ok (2nd Runner-up of 1977) (Miss International 1977) - Choi Young-ok (Winner of 1984) (Miss Universe 1985)
Choi Yeon-hee (1st Runner-up of 1987) (Miss World 1988 - 1st r-up) - Jang Hye-young (5th Runner-up of 1987)
(Miss International Pacific Pearl 1987 - Best National Costume)
Jang Eun-young (1st Runner-up of 1992)
(Miss International 1993 - Top 15) - Kim Hee-jung (2nd Runner-up of 1988)
(Miss International 1989 - Top 15)
Kim Min-jung (2nd Runner-up of 1995)
Kim Yeon-su (6th Runner-up of 2002) - Seol Soo-jin (1st Runner-up of 1996) (Miss World 1996)
Seol Soo-hyun (2nd Runner-up of 1999) - Son Hye-im (6th Runner-up of 1999)
Son Tae-young (2nd Runner-up of 2000)
(Miss International 2000 - 1st Runner-up) - Yu Si-eun (1st Runner-up of 2022)
Yu Eun-seo (2nd Runner-up of 2025)[53]
Etc.
- Yoo Ha-young (Winner of 1992) (Miss Universe 1993) (Cousin)
Han Kyoung-jin (1st Runner-up of 2004) (Miss World 2004) - Jang Yoon-jeong (Winner of 1987) (Miss Universe 1988 - 1st r-up)
Jang Jee-hun (World Miss University 1997 - Winner) (Sister) - Kwon Jung-joo (4th Runner-up of 1990) (Mother)
(Miss International 1991 - Top 15)
Jisu Kim (Miss Universe 2021) (Daughter)
Remove ads
See also
- Miss Queen Korea
- Miss Grand Korea
- Mister World Korea
- Mister International Korea
- Mister Korea
- Miss Earth Korea
- Miss International Korea Representative
- Miss and Mister Korea beauty pageants
- Miss Universe Korea Representative
- Miss and Mister World Korea
- Miss and Mister Supranational Korea
- List of beauty pageants
References
External links
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads