Miss Korea ( ko, 미스코리아) is a national

beauty pageant A beauty pageant is a competition that has traditionally focused on judging and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants. Pageants have now evolved to include inner beauty, with criteria covering judging of personality, intelligence, ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

. Lee Seung-hyeon won the title on October 26, 2022.

History

The first Miss Korea competition took place in 1957 and was sponsored by the Korean newspaper

Hankook Ilbo ''Hankook Ilbo'' () is a Korean-language daily newspaper in Seoul, South Korea. As of 2017, it had a daily circulation of about 213,200. It was previously published by the Hankook Ilbo Media Group, however following an embezzlement scandal i ...

. Each year, approximately fifty women compete in

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

, and seven are selected by a panel of judges. The winner "Jin" (진) is crowned as the official Miss Korea. Additionally, there are two "Sun" (선) finalists (equivalent to 1st runners-up), who go on to compete in

Miss International Miss International (''Miss International Beauty'' or ''The International Beauty Pageant'') is a Japan-based international beauty pageant organized by the International Culture Association. First held in 1960, it is the fourth largest pageant i ...

or Miss Earth. Lastly, four "Mi" (미) finalists (equivalent to semi-finalists) are chosen. On March 16, 2011, the president of the Miss World Organization, Julia Morley, announced the newly launched

Miss World Korea Miss Queen Korea ( ko, 미스 퀸 코리아) is a national beauty pageant responsible for selecting South Korea's representative to the Miss Universe and Miss World pageant. History * In 1957 the first Miss Korea competition took place in 19 ...

pageant. Until 2010, Miss Korea would also select the representative to Miss World, but starting with

Miss World 2011 Miss World 2011, the 61st edition of the Miss World pageant, was held on 6 November 2011 at the Earls Court Two in London, United Kingdom. As part of the events, the contestants also travelled to Edinburgh, Scotland between 23 and 27 Octobe ...

, a separate competition has been held to choose the contestant who will represent Korea. In 2015, Hanju E&M took over Miss Korea Organization. Since 2016, Miss Korea organization no longer send South Korea's representative to Miss Universe. In 2022,

Mina Sue Choi Mina Sue Choi () is a South Korean model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Earth 2022. She is the first Korean to win the Miss Earth title, and the first to win one of the Big Four international beauty pageants. Early life a ...

represented Korea at the 22nd Miss Earth pageant, which was held in

Parañaque Parañaque, officially the City of Parañaque ( fil, Lungsod ng Parañaque, ), is a first class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to t ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

on November 29, 2022, and eventually won the crown, making Korea's first ever victory on any of the

big four international beauty pageants The Big Four or the Big League Pageants refers to the four major international beauty pageants for women – Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss International and Miss Earth. The group was first described by the '' China Daily'' newspaper in 2004 ...

Titleholders

File:Lee Hye-Won.jpg, Miss Korea 1999 ''Fila'' Lee Hye-won File:Kim Sa-rang (actress) in September 2011 from acrofan.jpg, Miss Universe Korea 2001 Kim Sa-rang File:Jung Ah-Reum from acrofan (2).JPG, Miss Korea 2001 ''Muke'' Jung Ah-reum File:Miss Korea 2010 (136) (cropped).jpg, Miss Korea 2009 ''Sun'' Cha Ye-rin File:Miss Korea 2010 (135) (cropped, 2).jpg, Miss Korea 2009 ''Mi'' Lee Seul-ki File:Miss Korea 2010 (136) (cropped, 2).jpg, Miss Korea 2009 ''Mi'' Choi Ji-hee File:Miss Korea 2010 (108).jpg, Miss Korea 2010 ''Sun'' Jang Yoon-jin File:Miss Korea 2010 (33).jpg, Miss Korea 2010 ''Mi'' Ha Hyun-jung File:Miss Korea 2010 (151) (cropped).jpg, Miss Korea 2010 ''Mi'' Ahn Da-hye File:Miss Korea 2012 (311).jpg, Miss Korea 2011 ''Mi'' Lee Semina File:Miss Korea 2012 (395) (cropped, 2).jpg, Miss Korea 2011 ''Mi'' Nam Mi-yeon File:Miss Korea 2012 (395) (cropped).jpg, Miss Korea 2011 ''Mi'' Kim Soo-jung File:Miss Korea 2012 (394) (cropped, 2).jpg, Miss Korea 2011 ''Mi'' Gong Pyung-hee File:Miss Korea 2012 (161).jpg, Miss Korea 2012 ''Mi'' Kim Young-joo File:Miss Korea 2012 (148).jpg, Miss Korea 2012 ''Mi'' Kim Na-yeon File:Miss Korea 2012 (153).jpg, Miss Korea 2012 ''Mi'' Kim Tae-hyun File:Miss Korea 2012 (113).jpg, Miss Korea 2012 ''Mi'' Kim Yoo-jin File:Kim Hyo-Hee.jpg, Miss Korea 2013 ''Sun'' Kim Hyo-hee File:Koo Bon-Hwa.jpg, Miss Korea 2013 ''Mi'' Koo Bon-hwa File:Choi Hye-Rin.jpg, Miss Korea 2013 ''Mi'' Choi Hye-rin File:Han Soo-Min.jpg, Miss Korea 2013 ''Mi'' Han Soo-min File:Kim Min-Joo.jpg, Miss Korea 2013 ''Mi'' Kim Min-joo File:Ryu So-Ra.jpg, Miss Korea 2014 ''Mi'' Ryu So-ra File:Kim Myeong-Seon.jpg, Miss Korea 2014 ''Mi'' Kim Myeong-seon File:Lee Sarah.jpg, Miss Korea 2014 ''Mi'' Lee Sarah File:Baek Ji-Hyun.jpg, Miss Korea 2014 ''Mi'' Baek Ji-hyun File:Kim Sae-yeon for the Korea Times.jpg , Miss Korea 2019 Kim Sae-yeon ;Color key

Miss International Korea

Korea debuted at

in 1960. One of the two 1st runner-ups (Sun) of Miss Korea represents her country at Miss International. On occasion, when the candidate doesn't qualify for any reason for the contest, another girl is sent. Traditionally, 1st runner-up competed at Miss World but since 2011, the 1st runner-up of Miss Korea represents her country at Miss International. File:Son Tae-Young.jpg, Miss International Korea 2000

Son Tae-young Son Tae-young (born August 19, 1980) is a South Korean actress and former Miss Korea. Career As Miss Daegu, Son Tae-young placed second runner-up (or third place) at the Miss Korea pageant in 2000. She was the country's representative at the 2000 ...

File:Miss Korea 2010 (135) (cropped).jpg, Miss International Korea 2009 Seo Eun-mi File:Miss Korea 2012 (393) (cropped).jpg, Miss International Korea 2011 Kim Hye-sun File:Han Ji-eun in 2013 Korea Armed Forces Day.jpg, Miss International Korea 2013 Han Ji-eun File:Lee Seo-Bin.jpg, Miss International Korea 2014 Lee Seo-bin

Miss Earth Korea

Korea debuted at Miss Earth in 2002. One of the two 1st runner-ups (Sun) of Miss Korea represents her country at Miss Earth. On occasion, when the candidate doesn't qualify for any reason for the contest, another girl is sent File:Yoo Hye-Mi (2).jpg, Miss Earth Korea 2005 Yoo Hye-mi File:Seo Seol-Hee.jpg, Miss Earth Korea 2008 Seo Seol-hee during the

Miss Earth 2008 Miss Earth 2008, the 8th edition of the Miss Earth pageant, was held on November 9, 2008, at the Clark Expo Amphitheater in Angeles City, Philippines. Eighty-five delegates arrived from 19 October 2008 in Philippines. The pageant was broadcas ...

pageant File:Earth2009press03.jpg, Miss Earth Korea 2009 Park Ye-ju during the Press presentation in the

Miss Earth 2009 Miss Earth 2009, the 9th edition of the Miss Earth pageant, was held on November 22, 2009 at the Boracay Ecovillage Resort and Convention Center in Boracay, Malay, Aklan, Philippines. Karla Henry of Philippines crowned her successor Larissa Ra ...

pageant File:Miss Korea 2010 (28).jpg, Miss Earth Korea 2010 Lee Gui-joo File:Miss Korea 2012 (159).jpg, Miss Earth Korea 2012 Kim Sa-ra File:유예빈, 김효희, 최송이 출연 아시아 요리 서대문구 연희동 맛집 오시아 (식신로드 Gourmet Road) EP 149-1 최송이.jpg, Miss Earth Korea 2013 Choi Song-yi File:Shin Su-Min.jpg, Miss Earth Korea 2014 Shin Su-min File:MinaSueChoi.jpg, Miss Earth Korea 2022 Choi Min-Sue when she got the Gold Medal for Preliminary Long Gown Competition in the

Miss Earth 2022 Miss Earth 2022 was the 22nd Miss Earth pageant, held on November 29, 2022, at the Okada Manila in Parañaque, Metro Manila, Philippines. Destiny Wagner of Belize crowned Mina Sue Choi of South Korea as her successor at the end of the event. T ...

pageant.

Former titles

Miss Universe Korea

Korea debuted at Miss Universe in 1954, three years before the first Miss Korea pageant. Since 2016, Korean representatives at

Miss Universe Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by a United States and Thailand based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stre ...

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. File:Oh Hyun-Kyung.jpg, Miss Universe Korea 1990

Oh Hyun-kyung Oh Hyun-kyung (born Oh Sang-ji on March 25, 1970) is a South Korean actress. Career Oh Sang-ji won the 1989 Miss Korea beauty pageant, and represented her country at the Miss Universe 1990 pageant. She immediately rose to stardom. Using the s ...

File:Kim Ji-Yeon.jpg, Miss Universe Korea 1998 Kim Ji-yeon File:Choi Ji-Hyun.jpg, Miss Universe Korea 1999 Choi Ji-hyun File:Kim Yeon-Joo.jpg, Miss Universe Korea 2000 Kim Yeon-joo File:Kim Sa-rang (actress) in September 2011 from acrofan.jpg, Miss Universe Korea 2001 Kim Sa-rang File:Kim Joo-Hee.jpg, Miss Universe Korea 2006

Kim Joo-hee Kim Joo-hee (Hangul: 김주희, born June 30, 1981) is a South Korean beauty pageant Miss Korea titleholder and former Seoul Broadcasting System announcer. She represented her country at the Miss Universe 2006 pageant. Miss Korea 2005 Kim Joo- ...

File:Lee Ha-Nui in 2011.jpg, Miss Universe Korea 2007

Lee Ha-nui Lee Hanee (; born March 2, 1983), also known as Honey Lee, is a South Korean actress, model, classical musician as well as beauty pageant titleholder where she represented her country at Miss Universe 2007. She has acted in several films and te ...

File:Lee Ji-Sun.jpg, Miss Universe Korea 2008 Lee Ji-sun File:Miss Korea 2009 Seoul (41).jpg, Miss Universe Korea 2010

Kim Joo-ri Kim Joo-ri (, born May 21, 1988) is a Korean model and beauty queen who was the winner of Miss Korea 2009, and actress. For the first time ever, the Miss Korea winner represented Korea in Miss World 2009, and competed in Miss Universe 2010. She ...

File:Miss Korea 2010 (122).jpg, Miss Universe Korea 2011

Chong So-ra Jung So-ra (Hangul: 정소라; born March 10, 1991), also known as Sora Jung in the Western media, is a Korean beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Korea 2010 and represented her country in the 2011 Miss Universe pageant. Early life ...

File:Lee Seong-hye (Korean beauty pageant titleholder) on March 21, 2012 (4).jpg, Miss Universe Korea 2012 Lee Sung-hye File:Miss Korea 2012 (067).jpg, Miss Universe Korea 2013 Kim Yu-mi File:Miss Daegu 2013 Yoo Ye-Bin.jpg, Miss Universe Korea 2014

Yoo Ye-bin Yoo Ye-bin (born January 30, 1992) is a South Korean beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Korea 2013 and represented her country at the Miss Universe 2014 pageant. Early life Yoo Ye-bin was born in Daegu, South Korea and currently is ...

File:Kim Seo-Yeon.jpg, Miss Universe Korea 2015 Kim Seo-yeon

Miss World Korea

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

, that separate contest is to only focus on Miss World. File:Ko Hyun-Jung.jpg, Miss World Korea 1990

Go Hyun-jung Go Hyun-jung (; born March 2, 1971) is a South Korean actress. She debuted in the entertainment industry as a Miss Korea runner-up in 1989 and went on to star in '' Sandglass ''(1995), one of the highest-rated and critically acclaimed dramas in ...

File:Lee Seung-Yeon.jpg, Miss World Korea 1993

Lee Seung-yeon Lee Seung-yeon (born August 18, 1968) is a South Korean actress and talk show host. Career Lee Seung-yeon graduated from Inha Technical College in Incheon with a degree in Airline Navigation, and became a flight attendant for Korean Air. In 19 ...

File:Seo Hyun-Jin (announcer).jpg, Miss World Korea 2001 Seo Hyun-jin File:Miss korea 07 Eun Ju Cho.jpg, Miss World Korea 2007 Cho Eun-ju File:Miss Korea 08 Choi Bo in.jpg, Miss World Korea 2008 Choi Bo-in File:Miss Korea 2009 Seoul (41).jpg, Miss World Korea 2009

File:Miss Korea 2010 (115).jpg, Miss World Korea 2010 Kim Hye-young

References

External links

Miss Korea official website
{{Miss Earth countries and territories Miss Korea 1957 establishments in South Korea Recurring events established in 1957 South Korean popular culture Beauty pageants in South Korea

South Korean awards Annual events in South Korea Lists of women