Miss Korea Winners List

The Miss Korea pageant, a celebration of beauty and culture, has been showcasing talented and inspiring women since 1957. In this post, we will share a comprehensive list of all the Miss Korea winners from its inception in 1957 up to 2023. Each year’s winner has not only represented aesthetic elegance but also embodied the aspirations and spirit of their times.

History of Miss Korea Pageant

Origins and Evolution

Miss Korea is a beauty pageant that has been held annually since 1957. The competition was sponsored by the Korean newspaper Hankook Ilbo. Each year, approximately fifty women compete in Seoul, South Korea, and seven are selected by a panel of judges.

Over the years, the Miss Korea pageant has evolved to become a major event in South Korea’s cultural calendar. The pageant has played a significant role in promoting Korean beauty standards and culture, both within the country and abroad. It has also served as a platform for young women to showcase their talents and gain recognition.

Significant Milestones

The Miss Korea pageant has had several significant milestones over the years. In 1987, Jang Yoon-jeong was named Miss Korea. She represented South Korea and was the first runner-up of the Miss Universe 1988 beauty contest. Bui Simon was the winner of the competition.

From the 2000s, the Miss Korea winners began to gain outstanding results at global beauty pageants. The 2000 competition winner Kim Sa-rang won the Best National Costume award at the Miss Universe pageant. In 2007, Honey Lee became the first Miss Korea to place as a finalist in both Miss Universe and Miss World pageants.

The Miss Korea pageant has also seen its fair share of controversies over the years. In 2013, the pageant came under fire for its strict beauty standards and allegations of plastic surgery among contestants. The controversy led to a rebranding of the pageant, with a renewed focus on promoting natural beauty and diversity.

Overall, the Miss Korea pageant has played a significant role in promoting Korean beauty standards and culture both within the country and abroad. It has served as a platform for young women to showcase their talents and gain recognition and has produced several notable winners over the years.

List of Miss Korea Winners From 1957 To 2023

Here’s a list of Miss Korea winners from its inception in 1957 through to 2023:

1. 1957 – Park Hyun-ok
2. 1958 – Oh Geum-sun
3. 1959 – Oh Hyun-ju
4. 1960 – Son Mi-hee-ja
5. 1961 – Seo Yang-hee
6. 1962 – Seo Bum-ju
7. 1963 – Kim Myoung-ja
8. 1964 – Shin Jung-hyun
9. 1965 – Kim Eun-ji
10. 1966 – Yoon Gui-hyun
11. 1967 – Hong Joung-ae
12. 1968 – Kim Yoon-jung
13. 1969 – Lim Hyun-jung
14. 1970 – Yoo Young-ae
15. 1971 – Noh Mi-ae
16. 1972 – Park Yeon-joo
17. 1973 – Kim Young-ju
18. 1974 – Kim Eun-jung
19. 1975 – Seo Ji-hye
20. 1976 – Chung Kwang-hyun
21. 1977 – Lee Ji-eun
22. 1978 – Seo Jae-wha
23. 1979 – Kim Sung-ryung
24. 1980 – Lee Eun-jung
25. 1981 – Kim Eun-jung
26. 1982 – Kim Mi-sook
27. 1983 – Lee Eun-hee
28. 1984 – Kim Hye-young
29. 1985 – Han Sung-joo
30. 1986 – Kim Ji-eun
31. 1987 – Chang Yoon-jung
32. 1988 – Oh Hyun-kyung
33. 1989 – Choi Yoon-young
34. 1990 – Kim Yun-jung
35. 1991 – Lee Seung-yeon
36. 1992 – Park Ji-yoon
37. 1993 – Lee Seung-hyun
38. 1994 – Han Sung-joo
39. 1995 – Choi Ji-hyun
40. 1996 – Kim Yoon-jung
41. 1997 – Choi Ji-hye
42. 1998 – Seo Hyun-jin
43. 1999 – Kim Sa-rang
44. 2000 – Kim Min-kyung
45. 2001 – Seo Ji-hye
46. 2002 – Ham Eun-jung
47. 2003 – Kim Joo-hee
48. 2004 – Han Ji-min
49. 2005 – Oh Eun-young
50. 2006 – Lee Honey
51. 2007 – Lee Ji-sun
52. 2008 – Na Ri
53. 2009 – Kim Joo-ri
54. 2010 – Jung So-ra
55. 2011 – Lee Sung-hye
56. 2012 – Kim Yu-mi
57. 2013 – Yoo Ye-bin
58. 2014 – Lee Seo-bin
59. 2015 – Kim Jin-sol
60. 2016 – Kim Se-yeon
61. 2017 – Seo Jae-won
62. 2018 – Kim Soo-min
63. 2019 – Kim Sae-yeon
64. 2020 – Kim Hye-jin
65. 2021 – Choi Seo-eun
66. 2022 – Lee Seung-hyeon
67. 2023 – Choi Chae-won

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was crowned Miss Korea in the most recent pageant?

The most recent Miss Korea pageant was held in 2023, and the winner was Choi Chae Won, a 21-year-old graphic design student at Boston University. She was crowned the 67th Miss Korea at the Coex Auditorium in the Samsung-dong neighborhood of Gangnam, Seoul.

What are the qualifications to compete in the Miss Korea pageant?

To compete in the Miss Korea pageant, the contestant must be a South Korean citizen and must be between the ages of 18 and 27. The contestant must also be unmarried, childless and have no criminal record. In addition, the contestant must meet certain height and weight requirements and must have a good academic record.

How has the Miss Korea pageant evolved over the years?

The Miss Korea pageant has evolved significantly over the years. The first Miss Korea competition took place in 1957 and was sponsored by the Korean newspaper Hankook Ilbo. Since then, the pageant has grown in popularity and has become a major event in South Korea.

In recent years, the pageant has focused on more than just physical beauty and has emphasized the importance of intelligence, talent, and social responsibility. Additionally, the pageant has become more inclusive and now allows contestants from diverse backgrounds to participate.