List of Famous people born in Southern Savonia, Finland

Tuukka Mikael Rask is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender, for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Rask was drafted 21st overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Rask won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender during the 2013–14 season. In 2011, Rask won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins. He is the older brother of Joonas Rask, who plays professionally as a forward with HIFK in the Finnish Liiga.

Sergey Leonidovich Loiko is a writer, war photographer, and journalist. As a journalist and photographer he has covered armed conflicts in Russia and the former USSR since 1991 working primarily for the Los Angeles Times. In 2001, Loiko covered the war in Afghanistan and in 2003, the war in Iraq.

Fredi, is a Finnish comedic actor, musician, singer/songwriter and television presenter. Domestically he is best known as a founding member of the comedic variety ensemble Kivikasvot. Siitonen chose his stage name, Fredi, after a TV cartoon character, Fred Flintstone from "The Flintstones". In 1965 he recorded his first song, "Roskisdyykkarin Balladi" as Folk Fredi. A year later he dropped the Folk name and was simply known as Fredi. Internationally he represented his country at the Eurovision Song Contest 1967 in Vienna, Austria with the song "Varjoon - suojaan", which received three points and finished 12th of 17 entries. He is also the husband of the former mayor of Helsinki, Eva-Riitta Siitonen. They were married in 1969 and on November 13, 1970, Eva-Riitta gave birth to the late Hanna-Riikka Siitonen, who was a singer and actress. Fredi is also the stepfather of Petri, Eva-Riitta's son from a previous relationship.

Harri Tapani Kirvesniemi is a Finnish former cross-country skier who competed from 1980 to 2001. During his career he won six Olympic medals, and also the 50 km event at the Holmenkollen ski festival in 2000. He retired after being caught doping at the 2001 World Championship in Lahti.

Osmo Antero Vänskä is a Finnish conductor, clarinetist, and composer.

Erkki Antero Liikanen is a Finnish social democratic politician and a former Governor of the Bank of Finland.

Osmo Pekonen, PhD, D.Soc.Sc.,, is a Finnish mathematician, historian of science, and author. He is a docent of mathematics at the University of Helsinki and at the University of Jyväskylä, a docent of history of science at the University of Oulu, and a docent of history of civilization at the University of Lapland. He is the Book Reviews section editor of The Mathematical Intelligencer.

Tapio Wilska is the main vocalist of the heavy metal band Sethian. He is also the ex-lead vocalist for the band Finntroll and is the current vocalist of Canadian band Obscene Eulogy. He gets his inspiration from bands like Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Dead Kennedys, Venom, Thin Lizzy and The Pixies.

Olli Ilmari Rehn is a Finnish politician serving as Governor of the Bank of Finland since 2018. A member of the Centre Party, he served as Minister of Economic Affairs in Juha Sipilä's cabinet from 2015 until 2016, the European Commissioner for Enlargement from 2004 to 2010 and European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro from 2010 to 2014.