<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001128361</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HOPE BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HOPE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001680721</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Malone David P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3200 WILSHIRE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90010</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SEVP, Bank President &amp; COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85130</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance-based Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4540</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4540</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance-based Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4540</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4540</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance-based Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2269</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2269</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance-based Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance-based Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance-based Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6424</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6424</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance-based Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6424</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6424</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.18</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
            </transactionCoding>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2026-09-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Total amount of securities beneficially owned in Column 5 of Table I in this Form 5 includes all of the reporting owner's unvested Restricted
Stock Units (&quot;RSU&quot;) granted on May 19, 2021, March 17, 2021, April 22, 2020, March 6, 2020, and May 23, 2019 pursuant to the HOPE
Bancorp, Inc. 2019 Incentive Compensation Plan (&quot;2019 ICP&quot;) previously reported in Table II. Outstanding RSU shares will vest according to
previously disclosed vesting schedules.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">4,540 performance-based restricted stock units (&quot;PRSU&quot;) were granted on May 19, 2021 pursuant to the 2017 LTIP and 2019 ICP and subject
to a 3-year cliff vesting. Vesting of these PRSU shares depends upon Hope's achievement of a specified relative return on common tangible
equity in relation to the bank's stated peer group over a 12-quarter period from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2023. Each PRSU
represents a contingent right to receive one share of Hope common stock at Target performance. The &quot;Target&quot; number of shares is reported.
Possible payout ranges from 0% of Target if the Threshold goal is not met, 50% to 99% on a prorated basis if the Threshold is met but the
Target goal is not met, 100% to 149% on a prorated basis if the Target goal is met but the Stretch goal is not met, and 150% if the Stretch goal
is met or exceeded.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">4,540 PRSU were granted on May 19, 2021 pursuant to the 2017 LTIP and 2019 ICP and subject to a 3-year cliff vesting. Vesting of these
PRSU shares depends upon Hope's achievement of a specified absolute earnings per share in relation to the bank's stated budget over a 12-month period from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021. Each PRSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Hope
common stock at Target performance. The &quot;Target&quot; number of shares is reported. Possible payout ranges from 0% of Target if the Threshold
goal is not met, 50% to 99% on a prorated basis if the Threshold is met but the Target goal is not met, 100% to 149% on a prorated basis if the
Target goal is met but the Stretch goal is not met, and 150% if the Stretch goal is met or exceeded.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">2,269 PRSU were granted on May 19, 2021 pursuant to the 2017 LTIP and 2019 ICP and subject to a 3-year cliff vesting. Vesting of these
PRSU shares depends upon Hope's achievement of a specified relative ranking of the total stockholder return in relation to the bank's stated
peer group over a 12-quarter period from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2023. Each PRSU represents a contingent right to receive
one share of Hope common stock at Target performance. The &quot;Target&quot; number of shares is reported. Possible payout ranges from 0% of Target
if the Threshold goal is not met, 50% to 99% on a prorated basis if the Threshold is met but the Target goal is not met, 100% to 149% on a
prorated basis if the Target goal is met but the Stretch goal is not met, and 150% if the Stretch goal is met or exceeded.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">10,250 PRSU were granted on April 22, 2020 pursuant to the 2017 LTIP and 2019 ICP and subject to a 3-year cliff vesting. Vesting of these
PRSU shares depends upon Hope's achievement of a specified relative ranking of the total stockholder return in relation to the KRX Index over
an 11-quarter period from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Each PRSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Hope
common stock at Target performance. The &quot;Target&quot; number of shares is reported. Possible payout ranges from 0% of Target if the Threshold
goal is not met, 50% to 99% on a prorated basis if the Threshold is met but the Target goal is not met, 100% to 149% on a prorated basis if the
Target goal is met but the Stretch goal is not met, and 150% if the Stretch goal is met or exceeded.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">10,250 PRSU were granted on April 22, 2020 pursuant to the 2017 LTIP and 2019 ICP and subject to a 3-year cliff vesting. Vesting of these
PRSU shares depends upon Hope's achievement of a specified relative return on average assets in relation to the KRX Index over an 11-
quarter period from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Each PRSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Hope common
stock at Target performance. The &quot;Target&quot; number of shares is reported. Possible payout ranges from 0% of Target if the Threshold goal is not
met, 50% to 99% on a prorated basis if the Threshold is met but the Target goal is not met, 100% to 149% on a prorated basis if the Target goal
is met but the Stretch goal is not met, and 150% if the Stretch goal is met or exceeded.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">6,424 PRSU were granted on May 23, 2019 pursuant to the 2017 LTIP and 2019 ICP and subject to a 3-year cliff vesting. Vesting of these
PRSU depends upon Hope's achievement of a specified relative return on average assets in relation to the KRX Index during the 11-quarter
period from April 1, 2019 through December 31, 2021. Each PRSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Hope common stock at
Target performance. The &quot;Target&quot; number of shares is reported. Possible payout ranges from 0% of Target if the Threshold goal is not met,
50% to 99% on a prorated basis if the Threshold is met but the Target goal is not met, 100% to 149% on a prorated basis if the Target goal is
met but the Stretch goal is not met, and 150% if the Stretch goal is met or exceeded.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">6,424 PRSU were granted on May 23, 2019 pursuant to the 2017 LTIP and 2019 ICP and subject to a 3-year cliff vesting. Vesting of these PRSU shares depends upon Hope's achievement of a specified relative ranking of the total stockholder return in relation to the KRX Index over
an 11-quarter period from April 1, 2019 through December 31, 2021. Each PRSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of Hope
common stock at Target performance. The &quot;Target&quot; number of shares is reported. Possible payout ranges from 0% of Target if the Threshold
goal is not met, 50% to 99% on a prorated basis if the Threshold is met but the Target goal is not met, 100% to 149% on a prorated basis if the
Target goal is met but the Stretch goal is not met, and 150% if the Stretch goal is met or exceeded.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Non-qualified stock options granted on September 1, 2016 pursuant to the 2016 ICP. These options have fully vested as of September 1, 2018.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Claire Hur as AIF for David Malone</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
