Choi_Jae-hyung

Choi Jae-hyung

Choi Jae-hyung

South Korean jurist and politician


Choi Jae-hyung (Korean: 최재형, born 2 September 1956) is a South Korean politician and retired judge who served as the Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) from 2018 to 2021. He is a member of the National Assembly.

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Early life and education

Choi Jae-hyung was born in Jinhae (now Jinhae District, Changwon), South Gyeongsang on 2 September 1956.[1][2][3] He is the second of the four sons of Choi Young-sup (1928-2021),[1][2] is a former reserved captain from Pyeonggang, Gangwon (now under the de facto rule of North Korea).[3][4][5] He led the victory of South Korea during the Battle of Korea Strait.[1][6] He also participated in the Battle of Inchon and was awarded the Order of Military Merit for 3 times.[3] He married Chung Ohk-kyung, who died in 2009 after an 11-year battle with Parkinson's disease.[7] He died on 8 July 2021, a day after his son launched a bid to join politics.[8] He is the son of Choi Byung-kyu (1909-2008), a former independent activist who was also from Pyeonggang.[3]

Choi Jae-hyung has an elder brother, Choi Jae-shin, who was the former President of KorDev.[3][6] He also has 2 younger brothers — Choi Jae-min (doctor at a children's hospital) and Choi Jae-wan (professor at Gwangju University.[3][6]

Choi spent his childhood with his father in Waryong-dong, Central District, Seoul, but then moved to Hoehyeon-dong, and then Donggyo-dong.[1] He studied at Hanyoung Secondary School in Seongbuk (now moved to Gangdong), which took 4 hours to go from and return to his home.[1] He then attended Kyunggi High School,[2][3][5][6] where he met a friend named Kang Myung-hoon, who suffered from poliomyelitis during that time.[1][9] Every day, Choi carried Kang on his back to go to school, which was continued for 2 years.[1][9] This story became a trend when both were qualified for the bar in 1981.[1][9] Kang later became a lawyer.[1][9]

He studied law at Seoul National University, and completed national service as a lieutenant from 1983 to 1986.[1][2][3]

Career

After being qualified for the bar in 1981, Choi started his career as a judge at Seoul Central District Court in 1986.[2] He then continued to work at Daejeon District Court, Seoul Family Court, Seoul High Court and so on.[10][11]

Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI)

Following the election of the new President Moon Jae-in, Choi was nominated Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) on 7 December 2017, 6 days after the resignation of Hwang Chan-hyun.[10][12][13][14][11] On 29 December, 231 out of 246 MPs voted in favour of his appointment.[15]

On 28 June 2021, Choi officially resigned as the Chairman of the BAI.[16]

Political career

On 7 July 2021, after 9 days he resigned from the BAI, Choi made an announcement to join politics.[17][18] It was also reported that the People Power Party (PPP) intends to bring him into the party to pave a way for running at the 2022 presidential election.[17][18]

On 15 July, Choi officially joined the PPP.[19][20]

Personal life

Choi is married to Lee So-yeon; the couple has 2 daughters and 2 adopted sons.[1][2][9]

He is a Protestant and a presbyter at Shinchon Church, where both of his parents used to be a part of.[9]


References

  1. ""작은 자, 보잘것없는 자를 진심으로 섬기는 사람"". October 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  2. "[Who Is ?] 최재형 감사원장". 18 January 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  3. "감사원장에 최재형 사법연수원장 지명". 8 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  4. "[프로필]최재형 신임 감사원장 후보자". 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.

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