Choi Jae-hyung (Korean최재형, 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
Assumed office
9 March 2022
Preceded byLee Nak-yon
ConstituencySeoul Jongno
Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection
In office
2 January 2018 – 28 June 2021
PresidentMoon Jae-in
Preceded byHwang Chan-hyun
Succeeded byKang Mina (acting)
Personal details
Born (1956-09-02) 2 September 1956 (age 67)
Jinhae, South Gyeongsang, South Korea
(now Jinhae District, Changwon)
CitizenshipSouth Korean
Political partyPeople Power
SpouseLee So-yeon
ChildrenChoi 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)
RelativesChoi Byung-kyu (grandfather)
Alma materSeoul National University
OccupationPolitician, judge
Signature

Early life and education edit

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 edit

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) edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k ""작은 자, 보잘것없는 자를 진심으로 섬기는 사람"". October 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "[Who Is ?] 최재형 감사원장". 18 January 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "[류동학의 세상읽기] 최재형 감사원장의 천기와 가족사". 7 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  4. ^ "'대선후보 거론' 최재형 감사원장 강원 인연 눈길". 26 May 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b "윤석열에 '충청 대망론'이 있다면 최재형에겐 'PK 대망론'이 있다". 23 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d ""우린 북핵 머리에 이고 사는 꼴… 北 눈치만 보니 안타까워"". 11 November 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  7. ^ ""北이 核위협해도 눈치만 보는 文정부… 전단금지 말이 되나"". 1 April 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  8. ^ "최재형 전 감사원장 부친상… 아버지는 '6·25 영웅'". 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "최재형 감사원장 학창시절 감동이야기..."신앙으로 승화한 우정 10년"---나란히 司試(사시) 합격한 강명훈-최재형 군 "짙은 사귐"". 16 October 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  10. ^ a b "최재형 감사원장 후보자는 누구…"증거주의 입각한 법조인"". 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  11. ^ a b "감사원장에 최재형 사법연수원장 지명". 8 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  12. ^ "신임 감사원장 후보에 최재형 사법연수원장". 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  13. ^ "[프로필] 최재형 신임 감사원장 후보자는 누구". 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  14. ^ "[프로필]최재형 신임 감사원장 후보자". 7 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  15. ^ "최재형 감사원장, 안철상·민유숙 대법관 인준안 통과". 29 December 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  16. ^ "野 '다크호스' 최재형 사퇴… 등판 시기는 언제?". 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  17. ^ a b "최재형 "정치 참여하겠다"… 감사원장 사퇴 9일만에 공식화". 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  18. ^ a b "감사원장 사퇴 9일 만에…최재형 "정치 참여하겠다"". 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Mantan Kepala Dewan Audit dan Inspeksi Bergabung dengan Partai Kekuatan Rakyat". 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  20. ^ "[2보] 최재형, 국민의힘 전격 입당…오늘 오전 입당식". 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.

External links edit

National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
Preceded by Member of the National Assembly
from Jongno, Seoul

2022–present
Incumbent