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South Korean defector (1914–1989) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Choe Deok-sin (Korean: 최덕신; September 17, 1914 – November 14, 1989) was a South Korean Foreign Minister who later defected with his wife, Ryu Mi-yong, to North Korea.[1]
Choe Deok-sin | |
|---|---|
최덕신 | |
Malaysian Minister for Agriculture Malaya Khir Johari and the foreign minister of South Korea Choe Dok-sin sign the first ever trade agreement between those two countries in Seoul | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea | |
| In office October 11, 1961 – March 15, 1963 | |
| President | Park Chung Hee |
| Preceded by | Song Yo-chan |
| Succeeded by | Kim Yong-shik |
| Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland | |
| In office ??–1989 | |
| President | Kim Il Sung |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 17, 1914 Uiju County, Heianhoku-dō, Empire of Japan |
| Died | November 14, 1989 (aged 75) Pyongyang, North Korea |
| Spouse | Ryu Mi-yong |
| Choe Deok-sin | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 최덕신 |
|---|---|
| Hancha | |
| Revised Romanization | Choe Deok-sin |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ch'oe Tŏksin |
Choe was born in Uiju County, North Pyongan Province. In 1936, he graduated from the Republic of China Military Academy, and served as a Republic of China Army officer.[2] By the end of World War II, Choe had been promoted to colonel.[2] After the war Choe returned to South Korea and entered the national army academy as a second lieutenant.[2] In 1949, Choe entered the United States Military Academy.[2] On July 14, 1950, Choe returned to South Korea.[2] Choe served as a commanding general of the South Korean 11th Division under the United States IX Corps during the Korean War.[2][3] His division carried out the Sancheong-Hamyang and Geochang massacres. After the military coup, from 1961 to 1963, Choe served as a Foreign Minister and Ambassador to West Germany.[1]
In 1986, Choe relocated with his wife Ryu Mi-yong to North Korea from their exile in the United States, where they had been known for their opposition to the policies of the South Korean military government.[4] Choe served as a chief of the central committee of the Chondogyo religious movement and vice-chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland.[1][4] 3 years later, in 1989, Choe died at the age of 75. Choe's son, Choe In-guk, reportedly defected to North Korea in July 2019.[5][6]
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