Ch'oe Ŭi

Ch'oe Ŭi (Korean: 최의; Hanja: 崔竩; 1233–1258) was the fourth and last Ch'oe dictator of the Ubong Ch'oe Military regime.

Ch'oe Ŭi 최의
Military Leader of Goryeo
In office 1257–1258
Monarch	Gojong of Goryeo
Preceded by	Ch'oe Hang
Succeeded by	Kim Chun
Personal details
Born	1233
Died	1258
Spouse	Lady Lee
Children	-
Parent	Ch'oe Hang (father)

Ch'oe Ŭi
Hangul	최의
Hanja	崔竩
Revised Romanization	Choe Ui
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'oe Ŭi

Biography

When he was born in 1233, his father was a monk. In 1257, Ch'oe Ŭi became military leader of Goryeo after his father's death. He was known for his handsome appearance, quiet demeanor, and reticent personality, as well as for being very shy. Although his mother was a servant, since Choi Hang's legitimate wife had no children, he was chosen to continue the family line. In his youth, he studied poetry and calligraphy under Ye Gi (芮起), politics under Gwon Wi (權韙) and Im Ik (任翊), and ceremonial rites under Jeong Se-sin (鄭世臣).

In 1255 (the 42nd year of King Gojong's reign), he was appointed Jeonjungnaegupsa (殿中內給事, a court official). When his father died in 1257, Seon In-yeol (宣仁烈), Yu Neung (柳能), and others, along with Jeon Jeon (殿前) and Choi Yang-baek (崔良伯), gathered forces such as the Yabyeolcho (夜別抄), Shinuigun (神義軍), and Seobang Sambon (書房三番) to protect him, ensuring that he succeeded his father's power. As a result, the king appointed him Chajanggun (借將軍, a rank of general) and allowed him to inherit the title of Gyojeong Byeolgam (敎定別監, a high-ranking official). To win the hearts of the people, he opened the granaries and provided relief to the starving population. He also donated 2,570 seok of rice to the royal granary and, due to a poor harvest, opened his own warehouse to provide relief to officials like the Gwonmudaejeong (權務隊正), Geunjang Jwauwi (近仗左右衛), Shinhogwi Kyowi (神虎衛校尉), and the common people. That same year, he was appointed Ubu Seungseon (右副承宣, Vice Minister of the Right).

Although he initially made efforts to gain public support, he failed to secure the backing of the senior officials due to his low birth status as the son of a servant. Moreover, the good governance of his early reign did not last long. In 1258, he appointed General Byeon Sik (邊軾) and Nangjang (郎將) An Hong-min (安洪敏) as Ganghwa Suhwek-sa (江華收獲使, officials responsible for collecting harvests in Ganghwa), and they engaged in plunder. He also granted his servant, Yi Gong-ju (李公柱), the position of Nangjang (郎將, a military officer), among other corrupt practices. He disregarded wise scholars and trusted only his frivolous associates like Choi Yang-baek (崔良伯) and Yu Neung (柳能). When famine struck, he failed to provide relief and lost the support of the people.

As a result, Byeoljang (別將, a military officer) Kim Jun (金俊), Doryeong Nangjang (都領郎將) Im Yeon (林衍), and Daesaseong (大司成, a high-ranking academic official) Yu Gyeong (柳璥) led a coup, attacking his residence with the Yabyeolcho forces and killing him. This marked the end of the Choi family's military regime, which had lasted for about 60 years over four generations.

Family

• Father: Ch'oe Hang (최항; 1209 – 17 May 1257)
  • Grandfather: Ch'oe U (최우; 1166 – 10 December 1249)
  • Grandmother: Seo Ryeon-bang (서련방)
• Mother: Unnamed concubine
• Wives:
  • Lady Yi of the Inju Yi clan (부인 인주 이씨) – No issue.
  • Lady Sim Kyŏng (심경) – No issue.

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Baek Jong-Min in the 2012 MBC TV series God of War.

External links

• 최의 (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia.