Choi Kyu-hah

Choi Kyu-hah
최규하
崔圭夏
Choi as the Prime Minister of South Korea
10th President of South Korea
In office
1979–1980
Preceded by Park Chung-hee
Succeeded by Chun Doo-hwan
19th Prime Minister of South Korea
In office
1976–1979
Personal details
Born July 16, 1919(1919-07-16)
Wonju, Gangwon, Japanese-ruled Korea (now South Korea)
Died October 22, 2006(2006-10-22) (aged 87)
Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Nationality Korean
Political party Liberal Party
Spouse(s) Hong Gi
Religion None[1]
Korean name
Hangul 최규하
Hanja 崔圭夏
Revised Romanization Choe Gyu-ha
McCune–Reischauer Ch'oe Kyuha
Pen name
Hangul 현석
Hanja 玄石
Revised Romanization Hyeonseok
McCune–Reischauer Hyŏnsŏk
Courtesy name
Hangul 서옥
Hanja 瑞玉
Revised Romanization Seook
McCune–Reischauer Sŏok

Choi Kyu-hah (July 16, 1919– October 22, 2006) (also spelled Choi Kyu-ha) was the President of South Korea between 1979 and 1980. He was born in Wonju, Gangwon Province. He served as foreign minister from 1967 to 1971 and as prime minister from 1975 to 1979.

After the assassination of Park Chung-hee in 1979, then Prime Minister Choi assumed power. Because of the unrest resulting from Park's authoritarian rule, Choi promised democratic elections (the elections under Park were widely seen as rigged), as well as a new constitution to replace the highly authoritarian Yusin Constitution. Choi won an election in December that year to become the country's fourth president.

In December 1979, Major General Chun Doo-hwan and close allies within the military staged a coup d'état against Choi's government. They quickly removed the army chief of staff and virtually controlled the government by early 1980.

In April 1980, due to increasing pressure from Chun and other politicians, Choi appointed Chun as head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency. In May, Chun declared martial law and did away with all trappings of civilian government, becoming the de facto ruler of the country. By then, student protests were escalating in Seoul and Gwangju. The protests in Gwangju continued, resulting in the Gwangju Massacre, where around 987 civilians were killed within five days by Chun's military.[2]

Choi resigned soon afterward. Chun became president on September 1, 1980. After his resignation, Choi lived quietly out of the public eye and died on October 22, 2006.

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Political offices
Preceded by
Park Chung-hee
President of South Korea
1979–1980
Succeeded by
Chun Doo-hwan
Preceded by
Kim Jong-pil
Prime Minister of South Korea
1976–1979
Succeeded by
Shin Hyun-hwak