The Most Famous
MILITARY PERSONNELS from South Korea
This page contains a list of the greatest South Korean Military Personnels. The pantheon dataset contains 2,058 Military Personnels, 3 of which were born in South Korea. This makes South Korea the birth place of the 54th most number of Military Personnels behind Brazil, and Algeria.
Top 4
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary South Korean Military Personnels of all time. This list of famous South Korean Military Personnels is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.
1. Yi Sun-sin (1545 - 1598)
With an HPI of 70.97, Yi Sun-sin is the most famous South Korean Military Personnel. His biography has been translated into 45 different languages on wikipedia.
Yi Sun-sin (Korean: 이순신; Korean pronunciation: [i.sʰun.ɕin]; April 28, 1545 – December 16, 1598) was a Korean admiral and military general famed for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin war in the Joseon period. The exact number of naval engagements conducted by Admiral Yi against the Japanese is a subject of historical debate. However, he is widely believed to have seen combat in at least 23 victorious naval engagements during the war. In most of these battles, he was outnumbered and lacked the necessary supplies. His most famous victory occurred at the Battle of Myeongnyang, where, despite being outnumbered by 333 Japanese ships (133 warships, at least 200 logistical support ships) to a single fleet of 13, he managed to disable or destroy 31 Japanese warships without losing a single ship of his own. Yi died from a gunshot wound at the Battle of Noryang, the last major battle of the Imjin War, on December 16, 1598. Yi is regarded as one of the greatest naval commanders in history, with commentators praising his strategic vision, intelligence, innovations, and personality (see military evaluation). He is one of the most renowned historical figures in Korea, with multiple landmarks, awards, and towns named after him, as well as numerous films and documentaries centered on his exploits. His seven-year personal records of the war, collectively known as the Nanjung Ilgi, are listed as part of UNESCO's Memory of the World initiative.
2. Choe Yeong (1316 - 1388)
With an HPI of 61.94, Choe Yeong is the 2nd most famous South Korean Military Personnel. His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.
Ch'oe Yŏng (Korean: 최영; 1316–1388), also romanized as Choi Young, was a Korean general born in Hongseong or Cheorwon during the Goryeo period. He became a national hero after he put down Cho Il-sin's Rebellion (Korean: 조일신의 난). He also participated in the Red Turban Rebellions and later allied with the Ming dynasty to overthrow the Mongol Yuan dynasty. In his final years, General Ch'oe was betrayed and executed by his former subordinate Yi Sŏng-gye, who founded the Joseon dynasty of Korea, bringing an end to the Goryeo period.
3. Jang Bogo (787 - 841)
With an HPI of 58.37, Jang Bogo is the 3rd most famous South Korean Military Personnel. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.
Jang Bo-go (787–841), whose childhood name was Gungbok or Gungpa (Korean: 궁파), was a Sillan who rose to prominence in the Later Silla period of Korea as a powerful maritime figure who effectively controlled the Yellow Sea (West Sea), and dominated the trade between Silla, Heian Japan, and Tang China for decades. His impressive fleet of ships was centered in Wando, an island in South Jeolla Province. So influential a figure did Jang become in late Silla politics that he was granted official office as maritime commissioner of the Cheonghaejin Garrison (on Wando) and came near to marrying his daughter into the Silla Royal House before his assassination in 841. He was worshipped as a god in China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam following his death.
4. Won Gyun (1540 - 1597)
With an HPI of 57.67, Won Gyun is the 4th most famous South Korean Military Personnel. His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.
Won Gyun (Korean: 원균; Hanja: 元均; RR: Won Gyun; MR: Wŏn Kyun; 12 February 1540 – 27 August 1597) was a Korean general and admiral during the Joseon period. He is best known for his campaigns against the Japanese during Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea. Won was a member of Wonju Won clan, which was well known for its members' military accomplishments. He was born in 1540 near Pyeongtaek and demonstrated his skill as warrior at a young age. He was qualified as a military officer and was first assigned to the northern border to defend against the Jurchens, who frequently raided Korean villages. Won led many successful campaigns with Yi Il and Yi Sun-sin against the Jurchens. After considerable accomplishments on the northern frontier, he was promoted to admiral in 1592 and sent to the southern coast of Gyeongsang Province to command the province's Western Fleet, along with Yi Sun-sin, who became admiral before Won and took command of Jeolla Province's Eastern Fleet. At the time, Won and Yi were cavalry leaders who had no experience with naval warfare.
People
Pantheon has 4 people classified as South Korean military personnels born between 787 and 1545. Of these 4, none of them are still alive today. The most famous deceased South Korean military personnels include Yi Sun-sin, Choe Yeong, and Jang Bogo. As of April 2024, 1 new South Korean military personnels have been added to Pantheon including Jang Bogo.
Deceased South Korean Military Personnels
Go to all Rankings
Yi Sun-sin
1545 - 1598
HPI: 70.97
Choe Yeong
1316 - 1388
HPI: 61.94
Jang Bogo
787 - 841
HPI: 58.37
Won Gyun
1540 - 1597
HPI: 57.67
