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.
Choi Jae-hyung | |
|---|---|
최재형 | |
 | |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 9 March 2022 – 29 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Lee Nak-yon |
| Succeeded by | Kwak Sang-eon |
| Constituency | Seoul Jongno |
| Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection | |
| In office 2 January 2018 – 28 June 2021 | |
| President | Moon Jae-in |
| Preceded by | Hwang Chan-hyun |
| Succeeded by | Kang Mina (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 September 1956 Jinhae, South Korea |
| Political party | People Power |
| Spouse | Lee So-yeon |
| Children | Choi Ji-won Choi Ye-won Choi Young-jin (adopted) Choi Jin-ho (adopted) |
| Parent(s) | Choi Young-sup (father; d. 2021) Chung Ohk-kyung (mother; d. 2009) |
| Relatives | Choi Byung-kyu (grandfather) |
| Alma mater | Seoul National University |
| Occupation | Politician, judge |
| Signature |  |
Early life and education
editChoi 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
editAfter 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)
editFollowing 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
editOn 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]
Personal life
editChoi 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
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "작은 자, 보잘것없는 자를 진심으로 섬기는 사람". October 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "[Who Is ?] 최재형 감사원장". 18 January 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h [류동학의 세상읽기] 최재형 감사원장의 천기와 가족사. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ '대선후보 거론' 최재형 감사원장 강원 인연 눈길. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ a b 윤석열에 '충청 대망론'이 있다면 최재형에겐 'PK 대망론'이 있다. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d "우린 북핵 머리에 이고 사는 꼴… 北 눈치만 보니 안타까워". 11 November 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ ""北이 核위협해도 눈치만 보는 文정부… 전단금지 말이 되나"". 1 April 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- ^ 최재형 전 감사원장 부친상… 아버지는 '6·25 영웅'. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f 최재형 감사원장 학창시절 감동이야기..."신앙으로 승화한 우정 10년"---나란히 司試(시) 합격한 강명훈-최재형 군 "짙은 사귐". 16 October 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ a b 최재형 감사원장 후보자는 누구…"증거주의 입각한 법조인". 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ a b 감사원장에 최재형 사법연수원장 지명. 8 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ 신임 감사원장 후보에 최재형 사법연수원장. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ [프로필] 최재형 신임 감사원장 후보자는 누구. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ [프로필]최재형 신임 감사원장 후보자. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ 최재형 감사원장, 안철상·민유숙 대법관 인준안 통과. 29 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ "野 '다크호스' 최재형 사퇴… 등판 시기는 언제?". 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- ^ a b 최재형 "정치 참여하겠다"… 감사원장 사퇴 9일만에 공식화. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ a b 감사원장 사퇴 9일 만에…최재형 "정치 참여하겠다". 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ "Mantan Kepala Dewan Audit dan Inspeksi Bergabung dengan Partai Kekuatan Rakyat". 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
- ^ "[2보] 최재형, 국민의힘 전격 입당…오늘 오전 입당식". 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.