← 1980 1979 1978 1981 in South Korea → 1982 1983 1984
Centuries:	20th 21st
Decades:	1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
See also:	Other events in 1981 Years in South Korea Timeline of Korean history 1981 in North Korea

Events from the year 1981 in South Korea.

Incumbents

• President: Chun Doo-hwan
• Prime Minister: Nam Duck-woo

Events

• September 30 - The International Olympic Committee awards the 1988 Summer Olympics to the city of Seoul, South Korea.

Births

• 10 January - Brian Joo, singer-songwriter, actor and TV host
• 14 January - Jung Woo, actor
• 18 January - Gang Dong-won, actor
• 21 January - Andy Lee, singer
• 28 January - Lee Yu-ri, actress
• 5 February - Lee Eon, actor and model (d. 2008)
• 6 February - Shim Eun-jin, singer and actress
• 10 February - Cho Yeo-jeong, actress
• 14 February - Kim Hwan-sung, singer (NRG) (d. 2000)
• 26 February - Song Hye-kyo, actress
• 3 March
  • Eugene, singer and actress
  • Sung Yu-ri, singer and actress
• 18 March - Jang Na-ra, singer and actress
• 19 March - Kim Rae-won, actor
• 1 April - Yeon Woo, singer
• 8 April - Gummy, singer
• 3 May - U;Nee, singer, rapper, dancer and actress (d. 2007)
• 9 May - Kim Ji-hoon, actor
• 12 May - Kim Tae-woo, singer
• 28 July - Zo In-sung, actor
• 15 August
  • Lee Sang-yoon, actor
  • Song Ji-hyo, actress, model and TV host
• 22 August - Jang Hyun-kyu, footballer (d. 2012)
• 9 September - Jung Jong-kwan, footballer (d. 2011)
• 16 September - Lee Jin-wook, actor
• 18 September - Han Ye-seul, actress
• 29 September - Nam Hyun-hee, fencer^[1]
• 23 October - Shoo, singer and actress
• 30 October - Jun Ji-hyun, actress and model
• 6 November - Lee Dong-wook, actor, TV host and model
• 25 December - Lee Young Hyun, singer (Big Mama)
• 26 December - Seorak, singer and VJ
• 30 December - K.Will, singer