Choi Yun-hui

For the pole vaulter, see Choi Yun-hee.

Choi Yun-hui (Korean: 최윤희; Hanja: 崔允喜; born 1 September 1967) is a South Korean swimmer who served as the 2nd Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism under President Moon Jae-in from 2019 to 2020.^[1] She is the first woman and second professional sports player^[2] to become deputy head of the Ministry or of its preceding agencies. She competed in two events at the 1984 Summer Olympics.^[3][4]

Choi Yun-hui
최윤희
2nd Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism
In office 20 December 2019 – 23 December 2020
President	Moon Jae-in
Prime Minister	Lee Nak-yeon Chung Sye-kyun
Minister	Park Yang-woo
Preceded by	Noh Tae-gang
Succeeded by	Kim Jung-bae
Personal details
Born	(1967-09-01) 1 September 1967 (age 57)
Alma mater	Yonsei University

Choi Yun-hui

Personal information
Born	(1967-09-01) 1 September 1967 (age 57)
Sport
Sport	Swimming

In this Korean name, the family name is Choi.

Choi Yun-hui
Hangul	최윤희
Hanja	崔允喜
Revised Romanization	Choe Yunhui
McCune–Reischauer	Ch'oe Yunhŭi

Choi is the younger sister of Choi Yun-jung,^[a] who also competed internationally for South Korea in swimming. The two were nicknamed the "Seal Sisters", and were noted frequently for both breaking national backstroke records at the same time.^[5] Choi began learning to swim while in kindergarten through lessons at the YMCA.^[6] Both sisters attended Seoul National University Middle School,^[b] and represented their school in swimming at the national level.^[7] Following the 1984 Olympics, she won gold in the 100 m and 200 m backstroke at the 1986 Asian Games.^[8]

In 1987, she became the first South Korean model for the Japanese sports drink brand Pocari Sweat.^[9] In 2017, she was named the first ever woman to become board member of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.^[10][3]

Choi holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree from Yonsei University in physical education.^[1]

Notes

1. 최윤정; 崔允庭; Choe Yunjeong; Ch'oe Yunjŏng
2. 서울대학교 사범대학 부설중학교; Seoul Daehakgyo Sabeom Daehak Buseol Junghakgyo; Sŏul Taehakkyo Sabŏm Taehak Pusŏl Chunghakkyo

References

1. "문화체육관광부 열린장관실". Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
2. 배, 진남 (19 December 2019). "'아시아의 인어'에서 체육행정 책임자로…문체부 차관 된 최윤희(종합)". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 7 May 2020.
3. "아시아 인어에서 문체부 차관 된 최윤희". woman.chosun.com (in Korean). 26 December 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
4. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Choi Yun-hui Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
5. 「물개 자매」또 한국신 [New national record again for 'Seal Sisters']. JoongAng Ilbo. 30 August 1982. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
6. 쌍두마차로 成長한「물개姉妹」崔允庭,崔允喜 자매 [Raised on a two-horse carriage: the 'Seal Sisters', Choi Yun-jung and Choi Yun-hui]. Kyunghyang Shinmun. 14 April 1982. p. 8. Retrieved 5 December 2017 – via Naver News.
7. "전국수영폐막 韓國新8·大會新百46" [End of National Swimming Championships; eight new national records, 146 new competition records]. The Dong-A Ilbo. 22 July 1980. p. 8. Retrieved 5 December 2017 – via Naver News.
8. 제10회 아시아드 崔允喜수영첫金 [Choi Yun-hui wins first gold at 10th Asiad]. Maeil Business Newspaper. 24 September 1986. p. 1. Retrieved 5 December 2017 – via Naver News.
9. "[파워브랜드] 동아오츠카 '포카리스웨트'" [(Power Brand) Asia Otsuka's 'Pocari Sweat']. Seoul Finance. 1 December 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
10. '亞 인어' 최윤희 전 수영 국가대표, 대한체육회 이사 선임 ['Mermaid of Asia' Choi Yun-hui, former national swimming champion, takes office as board member of Korean Sport & Olympic Committee]. STN Sports. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2017.

External links

• Choi Yun-hui at Olympedia