Jang Yoon-jeong (Miss Korea) - Miss Universe 1988

Miss Universe 1988

After the preliminaries, Jang Yoon-jeong was the highest-placed Asian delegate who ranked third behind USA and Dominican Republic. During the actual pageant, she placed 1st runner-up behind Thailand's Porntip Nakhirunkanok. At the time of the Miss Universe 1988 pageant, she was a high school student studying dance. Korea has never won Miss Universe. Jang is the closest a Korean woman has come to winning since debuting in 1954. It would not be until 18 years later that a Korean woman (Honey Lee) made it to the semifinals.