The ascension of Choi Kyu-hah to the South Korean presidency followed the 1979 assassination of his predecessor, Park Chung Hee. As the incumbent prime minister, Choi assumed acting presidential duties under the legal framework of the Yushin Constitution before securing the office as the country’s fourth president for the remainder of the term.
Academic Background and Early Career
Born in 1919 in Wonju, Choi attended Kyunggi High School before continuing his education at the Tokyo University of Education, now known as the University of Tsukuba. He initially worked as a teacher at Taikyū Public Junior High School and spent time in Manchukuo at the Taidō Academy. Following his graduation in 1943, he transitioned into higher education as a professor at Seoul National University.
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Choi entered government service through the foreign ministry, serving as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1959. His diplomatic tenure included an ambassadorship to Malaysia from 1964 to 1967. Subsequently, he held the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs twice, first during 1959–1960 and later from 1967 to 1971. In 1975, he became the Prime Minister of South Korea, a role he maintained until 1979.
Presidency and Internal Conflict
Upon becoming president in late 1979, Choi signaled an intent to reform the authoritarian system by drafting a new constitution and planning democratic elections. His administration faced immediate instability when Major General Chun Doo-hwan initiated a military coup on 12 December 1979. By early 1980, the military leadership exerted control over the government, rendering Choi a figurehead while martial law was imposed amidst escalating protests in Seoul and Gwangju.
Resignation and Legacy
Under mounting pressure from military figures, Choi resigned from the presidency in 1980, citing a desire to establish a precedent for the peaceful transfer of power. He spent his final decades in relative obscurity until his death in Seoul on 22 October 2006. He was buried at the Daejeon National Cemetery and was a recipient of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa.
Fast facts
- Born: 1919, Wonju
- Died: 2006, Seoul
- Presidency: 1979-1980
- Education: University of Tsukuba
- Religion: Confucianism
- Burial site: Daejeon National Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was Choi's role before becoming president?
He served as the Prime Minister of South Korea from 1975 to 1979.
Why did his presidency end prematurely?
Following a military coup led by Chun Doo-hwan in December 1979, Choi lost effective control of the government and resigned in 1980.
