Who Are the Most Respected Koreans?

A Korean Girl Explains the Most Respected Koreans of All Time

If you ask a Korean, “Who do you respect the most?” the answer is most likely one of these three.

Here are three of the most respected Koreans!

Quick Summary

  • Most Koreans respect Gwanggaeto the Great, King Sejong the Great, and Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
  • Asking who our favorite is is like asking who you like more, mom or dad. Koreans love Gwanggaeto for his fearless conquests, King Sejong for the Korean alphabet, and Admiral Yi for his invincible spirit.

1. Gwanggaeto the Great (374–412)

Gwanggaeto the Great
Portrait of King Gwanggaeto, created by Lee Jong-sang in 1977

If LinkedIn were available in ancient times, Gwanggaeto the Great would’ve had a profile full of achievements.

Born in 374, this 19th king of Goguryeo possessed astonishing military strategy and ambition.

Armed with formidable ironclad cavalry, he expanded his kingdom to include the northern Korean peninsula and parts of northeastern China, making Goguryeo (or Korea) the largest it had ever been.

His accomplishments were so legendary that his son commemorated them on a massive monument, the Gwanggaeto Stele.

Gwanggaeto Stele
Gwanggaeto Stele

At 20.96 feet (6.39 meters) tall and 3.7 tons in weight with 1,802 engraved characters, it’s the largest engraved stele in the world.

The monument is located in Jilin Province, Northeast China, which was the capital of Goguryeo back then.

Koreans respect Gwanggaeto the Great for his strength and independence.

2. King Sejong the Great (1397–1450)

Statue of King Sejong the Great
Statue of King Sejong the Great

If Gwanggaeto was the muscle, King Sejong was the brains.

As the 4th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, he’s best known for creating Hangul, the Korean alphabet, in 1443.

Hangul was designed to be simple and logical so that even commoners could learn it. Imagine a king who says, “Let’s make literacy accessible to everyone!” His leadership is on another level.

Thanks to him, South Korea’s literacy rate for adults is 98.8% according to UNESCO.

King Sejong’s reign wasn’t just about letters. He fostered advancements in science, agriculture, and defense, making his era one of the most prosperous in Korea’s history.

You can see his statue in Gwanghwamun Square, and he’s also on the 10,000 won bill.

3. Admiral Yi Sun-sin (1545–1598)

Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin
Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin

Admiral Yi Sun-sin is the legendary Korean naval commander with a record of 23 victories against Japan without losing a single warship.

During the Japanese invasions (Imjin War) of 1592 to 1598, he built the Turtle Ship, a revolutionary iron battleship covered in metal spikes.

Turtle Ship
Turtle Ship

Despite being outnumbered and facing incredible odds, Admiral Yi’s strategies were so brilliant that he never lost a single battle.

The most notable one is the Battle of Myeongnyang where he defeated an entire fleet of the Japanese army with just 12 ships. His accomplishments are so legendary that they’re more glorious than fiction.

In the final battle of the Imjin War, the Battle of Noryang, he fought his last battle against the 500 Japanese ships withdrawing from Joseon. He implemented fire tactics using the wind to destroy 200 enemy ships and capture 100 ships. However, he met a heroic end when he was hit by an enemy bullet at dawn.

Admiral Yi said his famous words, “Do not let the enemy know of my death.” when he died in the Battle of Noryang in 1598.

Despite his heroic accomplishments, Yi faced relentless hardships, including wrongful imprisonment, loss of his family, and betrayal by his king who was jealous.

Yet, he rose above despair, showing extraordinary resilience, dedication, and patriotism, and became an iconic figure of national pride in Korea.

Today, his statue stands proudly in Gwanghwamun Square. His statue was also shown in the movie, 12:12 The Day, symbolizing protectors of Korea in troubled times.

You can watch Noryang: Deadly Sea to see his last naval battle against the Japanese navy in the Noryang Strait.


Beyond being historical icons, they’re the ultimate role models for Koreans.

Their stories continue to inspire pride and a sense of unity across generations.

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