Choi Hyung-woo, a key political ally of former President Kim Young-sam and a prominent figure in the Sangdo-dong faction, passed away on October 24. His funeral home has seen a steady stream of condolences from politicians across the aisle, as his political journey, marked by a commitment to democracy during the harsh military regimes and his role in reform policies following the establishment of a civilian government, is being revisited.
According to Yonhap News, Choi died at 3:30 a.m. at the Seoul National Veterans Hospital. He was 91 years old.
Born in Ulsan in 1935, Choi entered politics as a student representative during the April 19 Revolution in 1960. He was elected to the National Assembly as a member of the New Democratic Party in 1971 and served six consecutive terms until the 15th National Assembly.
Choi was subjected to torture for about three months after being taken by the National Security Command for criticizing the long-term rule of the Park Chung-hee regime. He faced further hardships after being detained shortly after the declaration of martial law by Chun Doo-hwan's military government in 1980, which resulted in the loss of his parliamentary seat. He later became the secretary-general of the Democratic Movement Promotion Council in 1985, actively participating in the democracy movement.
After the merger of three parties in 1990, Choi joined the Democratic Liberal Party, serving as the Minister of Interior under the Kim Young-sam administration after holding the position of Minister of Political Affairs and Secretary-General of the party. He was regarded as a key figure in the Sangdo-dong faction, often referred to as 'Left Dong-young, Right Hyung-woo' alongside former Minister Kim Dong-young. Following his election in the 1996 general election, he was mentioned as a potential candidate for the next presidential election among the so-called 'Nine Dragons,' but he suffered a stroke in 1997, leading to a prolonged battle with health issues.
At the funeral home in Samsung Medical Center in Gangnam, Seoul, tributes from political figures continued to pour in. A wreath sent by President Lee Jae-myung was displayed alongside those from former National Assembly Speaker Jeong Ui-hwa, former Deputy Speaker Lee Seok-hyun, former Saenuri Party leader Kim Moo-sung, and former Democratic Party leader Son Hak-kyu. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Minister of Planning and Budget Park Hong-keun, and People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik also sent floral tributes to express their condolences.
The funeral committee is chaired by Kwon No-gap, chairman of the Kim Dae-jung Foundation, along with Kim Deok-ryong, chairman of the Kim Young-sam Democratic Center, and Jeong Dae-cheol, chairman of the Korea Constitutional Society. The funeral will be conducted by the Korea Constitutional Society and the 4.19 Revolution Veterans Association, with Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk serving as co-chairs.
Reflections on Choi's commitment to the democracy movement and his unwavering loyalty to former President Kim Young-sam were shared at the funeral home.
Jeong Dae-cheol recounted to Yonhap News an anecdote from 1978 when he and Choi met with Cardinal Kim Soo-hwan. At that time, Choi expressed confidence that the end of the Park Chung-hee regime was near, demonstrating his belief in democracy. Jeong remembered Choi as a “truly human person” who spoke his mind even to YS when he felt it was necessary.
Choi's son, Choi Je-wan, recalled that while his father was strict as a politician, he was warm-hearted towards his family. He shared that his father endured torture and house arrest under the Park and Chun regimes and learned during a medical examination in Germany after his stroke that his aorta had ruptured, which he believed was a consequence of the torture.
The son also highlighted his father's deep loyalty to Kim Young-sam, noting that even when he struggled to maintain his balance, he visited Kim every January 1 until the former president's passing, demonstrating his commitment to their political bond.
Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, who has emphasized the legacy of the YS spirit, also visited the funeral home to pay his respects. He stated, “He devoted himself to protecting democracy during truly harsh times,” adding that without Choi Hyung-woo, South Korea's democracy would have been delayed.
Choi's funeral will be held over three days, with the burial scheduled for 8 a.m. on October 27 at the National 4.19 Democracy Cemetery.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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