Known for his bulldozing drive, Choi contributed to early reforms of the civilian government; Democratic Party's Kim Min-seok and PPP's Jang Dong-hyeok served as co-chairs of the funeral committee
A funeral service was held Tuesday for Choi Hyung-woo, the former interior minister who served as the closest political ally and "right hand" of late former President Kim Young-sam.
Choi, who died at 91, was one of Kim Young-sam's most trusted confidants. Together with former minister Kim Dong-young, he was known by the phrase "Dong-young on the left, Hyung-woo on the right," and led the Sangdo-dong faction — the political circle surrounding Kim Young-sam. He served six terms in the National Assembly and as interior minister.
Choi stood alongside Kim Young-sam through the democracy movement of the 1970s and 1980s, and is widely credited with driving early reforms of the civilian government with characteristic bulldozing determination.
During his first term in the Assembly, Choi exposed what he called a plot by the Park Chung-hee regime to entrench permanent rule through the "October Yushin" constitutional revision. He was subsequently taken to a counterintelligence detention facility run by the Defense Security Command near Seobinggo and subjected to three months of severe torture. After Kim Young-sam was elected president, Choi served as secretary-general of the Democratic Liberal Party and later as interior minister.
Following his election to the 15th National Assembly in the 1996 general election, Choi emerged as a presidential contender and was named among the so-called "Nine Dragons" — the leading candidates within the New Korea Party for the next presidential race. His political career was cut short in 1997, however, when he suffered a stroke and spent the years since battling illness.
The funeral service was attended by Kim Deok-ryong, chairman of the Kim Young-sam Democracy Center and head of the funeral committee, who delivered a eulogy, as did Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok and People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok. Former lawmaker Ahn Kyung-ryul read a brief biography of the deceased.
In his eulogy, Chairman Kim called Choi "a flame of democratization and an eternal comrade of 'Geosan'" — Kim Young-sam's pen name — and "a living witness to Korean democracy and a steadfast pillar of the civilian government." He added: "The spirit and courage with which you were the strongest wing of former President Kim will forever serve as an inspiration to our comrades. Please watch over, from above, the comrades who walked this path with the Republic of Korea."
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said Choi "lived his entire life with the spirit and passion of a young man" and pledged to carry on his legacy of reform. "As interior minister under the civilian government, he led the introduction of public officials' asset disclosure and the real-name financial transaction system, making a major contribution to advancing our politics and improving transparency," Kim said.
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok said Choi "never bent his unwavering will toward democracy despite countless persecutions and hardships." Jang added: "Together with former President Kim, you ushered in the civilian government and set a towering milestone in our political history, always standing at the forefront of bold reform. We will now carry forward the torch of democracy you lit throughout your life and make it burn even brighter."
Jeong Dae-cheol, chairman of the Korea Constitutional Association, had his eulogy read aloud by the organization's secretary-general Hong Ki-hoon. "His bulldozing drive and boldness remain vivid in our memory," the statement read. "It was because of you, elder brother, that a mature democracy and a sound public service could exist."
The service drew a large gathering of political figures who came to pay their final respects. Among those present were Kim Moo-sung, former leader of the Saenuri Party and a longtime member of the Sangdo-dong faction who had kept vigil at the funeral home; former Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee In-je; former Democratic Party leader Sohn Hak-kyu; former lawmaker Kim Dong-joo; Jeong Byeong-guk, a former lawmaker described as the youngest member of the Sangdo-dong faction; and Yoo In-tae, a Democratic Party elder and former secretary-general of the National Assembly.
Democratic Party lawmaker Park Sung-joon was also present, as were People Power Party lawmakers Kim Hee-jung, Park Jun-tae and Ahn Sang-hoon. Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon attended the service as well, shaking hands with PPP leader Jang and exchanging words with former party leader Kim Moo-sung.
A condolence wreath sent by President Lee Jae Myung was displayed at the venue, alongside floral tributes from former President Lee Myung-bak and National Assembly Speaker Jo Jeong-sik. The funeral was held under the auspices of the Korea Constitutional Association and the April 19 Revolution Comrades Association. Choi will be cremated at a funeral facility in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, and interred at the National April 19 Democratic Cemetery.
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