Ch'oe Uch'ŏng

Ch'oe Uch'ŏng (? – August 8, 1184) was a Goryeo civil official who served from the reign of King Injong until King Myeongjong. Ch'oe was the progenitor of the Chungju Ch'oe clan.

Biography Considered as the apical ancestor of the Chungju Ch'oe clan, Ch'oe Uch'ŏng was the son of vice director of the Chancellery , Ch'oe Ok . Ch'oe first started out as a hyangni (local functionary) in Chungju. He passed the kwagŏ in the reign of King Injong, and became the assistant magistrate of Jillye. Ch'oe was the Master of Divination of Myeongjong's household bureau before Myeongjong was enthroned as king by the ringleaders of the 1170 military coup. Due to Ch'oe ties to the king before his enthronement, he was trusted and favoured by the king. Upon becoming king, Myeongjong promoted Ch'oe to a censor .

In 1183, Ch'oe requested to retire at the age of 72. This was over the regular retirement request age of 70, which caused him to receive criticism. According to the Koryŏsa chŏryo, it stated that the people of Ch'oe's time ridiculed him for his late retirement. Ch'oe died on August 8, 1184.